Today's Obituaries (May 7, 1998)

Tommy Johnson

Tommy L. Johnson, 73, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

The body will be cremated. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Don Greenway officiating.

Mr. Johnson was born in Trenton and served with the U.S. Marine Corps. He received a Purple Heart. He worked in civil service for the U.S. Navy as a building storage supervisor until retiring and married Myrta Bowles in 1975 in Miami. He was commander of American Legion Post 28 while living in Florida. He moved to Abilene in 1982 from Asheville, N.C., and was a member of North Side Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two sons, Tommy Leon Johnson Jr. of Amarillo and Billy D. Johnson of Key West, Fla.; two daughters, Dolores Cook of Marco Island, Fla., and Tara D. Powers of Abilene; two sisters, Margaret Atkinson of Abilene and Ivy Boyd of Oklahoma City; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604; or Ben Richey Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 893, Abilene 79604.

Don Ray Glover

Don Ray Glover, 91, formerly of Springfield, Tenn., died Wednesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Memorial Gardens in Springfield, Tenn., directed by Austin and Bell Funeral Home of Springfield. Local arrangements are being made by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Glover was born in Coopertown, Tenn., and served with the U.S. Army in Europe, Africa and the Middle East during World War II. He received a Good Conduct Medal. He was a farmer and later worked for Acme Boot Co. and Blue Bell Boot Co. until retiring in 1977. He moved to Abilene in 1984 from Springfield, Tenn. He was a member of New Chapel Methodist Church in Springfield, Tenn., and was the widower of Marion G. Schneider Glover, whom he married in 1940 in Akron, Ohio.

Survivors include one son, Don R. Glover Jr. of Astoria, Ore.; one daughter, Lydia McKinney of Baird; one brother, George E. Glover of Springfield, Tenn.; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Juanita 'Bobbye' Adkins

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- Juanita "Bobbye" Adkins, 76, formerly of Abilene, died Tuesday in a local hospital of kidney failure.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Dyersburg Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Allen C. Gooch officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Mrs. Adkins was a homemaker and lived in Abilene for about 30 years. She moved to Dyersburg three years ago and was a member of Phillips Street Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, Woodrow Adkins of Dyersburg; one daughter, Betty Jean Adkins of Dyersburg; one son, Benny W. Adkins of Obion, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Virginia Ponce

BRECKENRIDGE -- Virginia Ponce, 66, died Tuesday in an area hospital.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Melton Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Anh Tran officiating. Burial will be in Breckenridge Cemetery.

Mrs. Ponce was born in Rockwood and lived in Breckenridge for many years. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was the widow of Jesse R. Ponce Sr., whom she married in 1951.

Survivors include one daughter, Joanne Candelaria of Abilene; three sons, Joe Ponce of Breckenridge, and Jesse Ponce Jr. and Manuel Ponce, both of Abilene; three sisters, Bessie Quiroz of Abilene, Sammie Espinoza of Coleman and Alicia Diaz of Georgia; eight brothers, Valentine Diaz of Coleman, Louis Diaz of California, Jesse Diaz and Reyes Diaz, both of Fort Worth, and Bictorino Diaz, Lupe Diaz, Richard Diaz and Joe Diaz, all of Santa Anna; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

George 'Potts' Moore

CLYDE -- George N. "Potts" Moore, 74, of Mineral Wells, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Eula Cemetery with Jim Hall officiating, directed by Bailey Funeral Home.

Mr. Moore was born in Old Glory and moved to Mineral Wells in 1969. He worked as an industrial painter for Perry Equipment in Mineral Wells until retiring.

Survivors include two sons, Gary Moore of Eula and Marc Moore of Abilene; two daughters, Tanny Hamilton and Sharra Sampson, both of Clyde; one brother, Prine Moore of Abilene; one sister, Imogene Duncan of Munday; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

George Thate

LONE OAK -- George P. Thate, 66, formerly of Coleman County, died Tuesday in a Greenville hospital.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday in Santa Anna Cemetery, directed by Peters Funeral Home of Greenville.

Mr. Thate was born in Burkett and worked as a gauger for Permear Oil Co. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include three sons, Jerry Earle of Elk City, Okla., Steven Thate of West Tawakoni and Stacey Thate of Red Oak; one stepson, Norman Samples of Monahans; two daughters, Tresa Pendleton of Lone Oak and Reba Bohon of West Point, Miss.; four stepdaughters, Cathy Alford of Weatherford, Diane Myers of Abilene, Lucy Gauchier of New Orleans and Glenda Crocker of Monahans; two brothers, Hughlynn Thate of Santa Anna and Robert Thate of Coleman; four sisters, Melba Salmon of Brownwood, Doris Burk of Levelland, Ruby McFarland of Coleman and Alma Jane Laird of De Soto; 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Katherine George

COLEMAN -- Katherine B. George, 85, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeff Robinett officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early.

Mrs. George was born near Miles and attended school in Bangs. She worked as a nurse's aide at Brownwood State School. She moved to Coleman in 1993 and was a member of Central Methodist Church in Brownwood.

Survivors include one son, Jarvis M. George of Coleman; one daughter, Dorothy G. Field of Coleman; three sisters, Augusta Allcorn of Brady, Willie Taylor of Wills Point and Pauline McNatt of Newberg, Ore.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Militia Fannine

BAIRD -- Militia L. Fannine, 93, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Ross Cemetery Annex, directed by Parker Funeral Home.

Ms. Fannine was born in Franklin County and worked as a hospital aide. She moved to Baird 18 years ago from Tolar and was a Baptist.

Survivors include one son, Sonny Niedecken of Baird; one sister, Ruth Barcigalupia of Walnut Springs; and one brother.

Pat McKinney

COLORADO CITY -- Pat McKinney, 72, volunteer firefighter for 50 years, died Tuesday from injuries received in a truck accident west of Colorado City.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Colorado City Cemetery with the Rev. Kay Reed officiating, directed by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. McKinney was born in Shawnee, Okla., and moved to Colorado City in 1938. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Mary Margaret Waggoner in 1948 in Colorado City and was a retired operator for Cosden Refinery. He was a Methodist.

Survivors include his wife, of Colorado City; one son, Richard McKinney of Colorado City; one daughter, Donna Goebel of Colorado City; and three grandchildren.

Omer Hill

WINTERS -- Omer C. Hill, 93, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Winters First Baptist Church with the Revs. Glenn Shoemake and Harold Campbell officiating. Burial will be in Pumphrey Cemetery, directed by Winters Funeral Home.

Mr. Hill was born in Goldthwaite and attended school in Mills County. He moved to Runnels County in 1936 and was a farmer. He was a Mason and was a longtime member of the Wingate Lions Club. He was a Baptist and was the widower of Sarah Evans Hill, whom he married in 1925 in Goldthwaite; and Zora Mitchell Hill, whom he married in 1955 in Pumphrey.

Survivors include two sons, Alpheus "Red" Hill of Wingate and Glynn Hill of Cedar Park; one daughter, Evelyn Voelkel of Ballinger; two brothers, George Hill of Grand Prairie and A.J. Hill of Wills Point; two sisters, Anna Lee Scott of Winters and Naomi Ashlock of Crowley; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to North Runnels Hospital, c/o Winters Funeral Home, P.O. Box 395, Winters 79567.

Visitation will begin at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Ada Jean Harris

ASPERMONT -- Ada Jean Harris, 61, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Aspermont First Baptist Church with the Rev. Sammy Wade officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mrs. Harris was born in Stonewall County and married Ira Harris in 1956 in Aspermont. She worked as a nurse's aide for many years and was formerly employed by McCoy Funeral Home. She was a Baptist.

Survivors include four sons, Ira Gene Harris of El Paso, and Ravin Harris, William Harris and James Nolen Harris, all of Aspermont; four brothers, Glover Miller Jr. of Aspermont, Lee Edward Norman of Odessa, and Dan Webster Miller and Harold Miller, both of Abernathy; five sisters, Ester Ruth Bennett of Hawley, Ella Sue Johnson of Pecos, Betty Sneed and Nancy Ann Hines, both of Dallas, and Lillie Mae White of Riverside, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two step grandchildren.

Bradley Pape

WINTERS -- Bradley Pape, 74, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Hopewell Baptist Church in Crews with the Rev. Ferris Akins officiating. Burial will be in Crews Cemetery, directed by Winters Funeral Home.

Mr. Pape was born in Runnels County, where he lived most of his life, and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from North Texas State University and married Ruth Sauer in 1985 in Crews. He was a farmer and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Crews; four stepsons, Clifton Lee Ueckert, John Michael Craig and Shane David Craig, all of Houston, and Alton Jack Craig of Dallas; two stepdaughters, Elaine Kennedy of Tampa, Fla., and Deborah Horn of Kerens; one brother, Walter Pape Jr. of Santa Anna; two sisters, Harvey Mae Faubion of Crews and Mary Louise Dunivan of Winters; six step grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Nelson Geron

SWEETWATER -- Nelson A. Geron, 76, Nolan County veterans service officer for 36 years, died Tuesday in a San Angelo hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with the Rev. Jimmy Dean Seale officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Roscoe Cemetery.

Mr. Geron was born in Paris, Texas, and lived in Sweetwater most of his life. He graduated from Roscoe High School and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a Mason. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widower of Ellawee Hicks Geron, whom he married in 1942 in Roscoe.

Survivors include two sons, Nelson A. Geron Jr. of San Angelo and Larry Arthur Geron of Virginia Beach, Va.; one brother, Billy Geron of San Antonio; two sisters, Martha Sackett of Lewisville and Jean Etz of Nashville, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Essie Smith

BRADSHAW -- Essie Smith, 84, died Tuesday in a San Marcos hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Winters Funeral Home Chapel in Winters with Paige Baize officiating. Burial will be in Bradshaw Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith was born in Weatherford and moved to Bradshaw at age four. She was a homemaker. She was a Methodist and was the widow of C.W. Smith, whom she married in 1933 in Winters.

Survivors include three daughters, Betty Newton and Debbye Smith, both of Anchorage, Alaska, and Patty Smith of San Marcos; one brother, Robert A. Bagwell of Robert Lee; one sister, Cin Orr of Sweetwater; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Lowell Fields Petitfils

Lowell Fields Petitfils, 76, of Odessa, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Frank Stevens

COLEMAN -- Frank Stevens, 88, died Tuesday in a Brownwood hospital. Services are pending with Stevens Funeral Home.

Rosa Gene Carroll

BRECKENRIDGE -- Rosa Gene Carroll, 95, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Seventh-Day Adventist Church, directed by Morehart Mortuary.

Alma Irene Hope Green

STEPHENVILLE -- Alma Irene Hope Green, 89, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in East Memorial Cemetery, directed by Stephenville Funeral Home.

Beulah May Condra Barnett

BALLINGER -- Beulah May Condra Barnett, 83, of Grapevine and formerly of Ballinger, died Tuesday in Colleyville. Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Rains-Seale Funeral Home Chapel.

Eddie Baker

RISING STAR -- Eddie Baker, 52, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel.

Delton 'Mack' McQueen

BALLINGER -- Delton G. "Mack" McQueen, 81, died Tuesday in a Big Spring hospital. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Ruby Story

CISCO -- Ruby L. Story died Monday in a local nursing home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Mitchell Baptist Church, directed by Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors.

Geneva Magistretti

RANGER -- Geneva A. Magistretti, 78, died Wednesday in an Eastland hospital. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Bullock Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Ina Richardson Pettit

ALBANY -- Ina Richardson Pettit, 86, formerly of Throckmorton, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Merriman-Archer Funeral Home Chapel in Throckmorton.

George Lasater

EASTLAND -- George A. Lasater, 92, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Flatwood Cemetery, directed by Bakker Funeral Home.