Today's Obituaries (May 9, 1998)

Levi Douglas

TUSCOLA -- Levi W. Douglas, 74, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Tuscola Cemetery with the Rev. T.C. Melton officiating, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home.

Mr. Douglas was born in Sheboygan, Wisc., and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Mattie Melott in 1948 in Sheboygan, where he owned Doug's Body Shop. He moved in 1971 to Abilene, where he worked for an automotive body shop until retiring that year. He moved to Tuscola in 1985 and was a Lutheran.

Survivors include his wife, of Tuscola; two daughters, Sandra Swaab of Oneida, Wis., and Judith Sparks of Pulaski, Wis.; one sister, LaVern Kueter of Sheboygan, Wis.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Juanel Thompson

STAMFORD -- Juanel Thompson, 67, of Lake Stamford, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Trinity Baptist Church with the Revs. Robert Wingrove, Eddie Prince and Vergil Smith officiating. Burial will be in Rockdale Cemetery, directed by Kinney Funeral Home.

Mrs. Thompson married Howard Thompson in 1950 in Avoca and moved to Lake Stamford six years ago from Brownfield. She was a treasurer and Sunday school secretary at Trinity Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Lake Stamford; two daughters, Madeline Pickett of Brownfield and Diane Moore of Clovis, N.M.; one son, Dale Thompson of Brownfield; three brothers, Dempsey Bolding and Rex Bolding, both of Stamford, and Glenn Bolding of Midland; one sister, Patsy Ackley of Lindale; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Trinity Baptist Church Memorial Fund.

Lena Belle 'Babe' Wise

CLYDE -- Lena Belle "Babe" Wise, 99, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Riley Fugitt and Dr. Jerry Joplin officiating. Burial will be in Clyde Cemetery.

Mrs. Wise was born in Taylor County and moved to Clyde in 1953 from Fort Worth. She was a life member and past worthy matron of Chapter 308, Order of the Eastern Star. She also was a member of Clyde Study Club and First Baptist Church and was the widow of Oscar Wise, whom she married in 1969 in Clyde.

Survivors include one son, Loyd W. Courtney of Fort Worth; three daughters, Margarett Burke of Clyde, Grace Pyeatt and Edra Hopper, both of Aztec, N.M.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Anna Staats

COLORADO CITY -- Anna Staats, 62, died Thursday in a Lubbock hospital.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Colorado City First Baptist Church with Dr. Ted Spear and the Rev. Glenn Roenfeldt officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery, directed by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mrs. Staats was born in Wink and married Walt Staats in 1953 in Garden City, Kan. She moved to Colorado City 20 years ago and worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for Mitchell County Hospital Home Health. She was a hospice volunteer and was a member of American Cancer Society, Business & Professional Women's Association, Tumbleweed Lions Club, Lady's Golf Association, Order of the Eastern Star and First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Colorado City; one daughter, Dianne Hansen of Monroe, Wash.; one son, Dwight Staats of Fort Collins, Colo.; one sister, Barbara Cunningham of College Station; two brothers, Robert Barclay of Iola, Kan., and Ralph Barclay of Chanute, Kan.; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Choir, American Cancer Society, hospice or Mitchell County Hospital Foundation.

Ethel Idalia Bridwell

WINTERS -- Ethel Idalia Bridwell, 93, died Friday in a Ballinger hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Winters First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Torian officiating. Burial will be in Crews Cemetery, directed by Winters Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bridwell was born in Killeen and moved to Runnels County in 1918. She graduated from Winters High School in 1923 and was a homemaker. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Harvey Baker, whom she married in 1924 in Drasco; and E.W. Bridwell, whom she married in 1934.

Survivors include one son, Albert Porter Baker of San Benito; three sisters, Leona Witt of Ballinger, Pauline Mayhew of Winters and Verba Pape of San Angelo; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Jesse Morales Guerra

COLEMAN -- Jesse Morales Guerra, 61, died Thursday in a Stamford hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Art Allen officiating. Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.

Mr. Guerra was born in Pandora and attended school in Stockdale. He moved to Coleman in 1987 from Austin and worked in construction and as a concrete finisher.

Survivors include one son, Henry Guerra of Pflugerville; his parents, Juan and Isabel Guerra of Stockdale; four brothers, Alfred Guerra, Felix Guerra, Juan Guerra and Robert Guerra; two sisters, Lucy Martinez and Linda Guerra; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

John Tolbert Young

WINTERS -- John Tolbert Young, 46, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in St. John's Lutheran Church with the Rev. James Hanson officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, directed by Winters Funeral Home.

Mr. Young was born in Ballinger and lived in Winters most of his life. He married Pat Johnson in 1990 in Winters and worked for Winters Welding Works. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Winters; and four brothers, Ronnie Young, Monty Young, Lonnie Young and Ike Young, all of Sweetwater.

Tommie Poindexter

COLEMAN -- Tommie Poindexter, 95, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Reed Justice officiating. Burial will be in Oplin Cemetery.

Mr. Poindexter was born in Oplin, where he graduated from high school, and worked in the oil field. He was a farmer. He moved to Novice in 1950 and Coleman in 1992. He was a member of Novice United Methodist Church and was the widower of Myrtle Johnson Poindexter, whom he married in 1926 in Lawn.

Survivors include one daughter, Joan Burks of Coleman; three sisters, Libby Gorman of Coleman, Opall Betzen of Tulsa, Okla., and Lola Stevens of Woodward, Okla.; one brother, Henry Poindexter of Fort Stockton; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Wayne Dennis

CROSS PLAINS -- Wayne Dennis, 79, of Balch Springs and formerly of Coleman, died Thursday in a Balch Springs nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Pipes officiating. Burial will be in Cross Plains Cemetery.

Mr. Dennis was born in El Reno, Okla., and was a retired rural route mail carrier. He was a member of Cross Plains First Baptist Church and was the widower of Wilda Meador Dennis, whom he married in 1938 in Cross Plains.

Survivors include one son, Donnie Dennis of Laredo; two daughters, Glenda Davis of Balch Springs and Vickie Stevens of Dallas; one sister, Ila Jo Huff of Hurst; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Myrtle Pipkin

CISCO -- Myrtle R. Pipkin, 65, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Romney Cemetery with the Rev. John Jones officiating, directed by Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors.

Mrs. Pipkin was born in Teague and moved to Cisco from Waco. She was the widow of Macon Pipkin, whom she married in 1950 in Mexia.

Survivors include four sons, Ron Pipkin and Michael Pipkin, both of Cisco, Eddie Pipkin of Sanderson, Fla., and David Pipkin of Minneapolis, Minn.; two daughters, Ninva Doty of Cisco and Donna Brock of Odessa; one sister, Vera Gregory of Clifton; 22 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Carl Albert Piel

Carl Albert Piel, 70, died Thursday in a Dallas hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

W.V. 'Tuck' Blankinship

PADUCAH -- W.V. "Tuck" Blankinship, formerly of Goree, died Friday. Services are pending with Seigler Funeral Home.

Jose Rangel

BIG SPRING -- Jose R. Rangel, 69, died Thursday in a local hospital. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Mount Olive Memorial Park, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Daisy Buse

SANTA ANNA -- Daisy (Mrs. Vernon) Buse, 84, died Thursday in a Brownwood hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Santa Anna First United Methodist Church, directed by Henderson Funeral Home.

Claire Ethleen Hall-Carpenter

COAHOMA -- Claire Ethleen Hall-Carpenter, 76, died Friday at her home. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.

Fannie Martin

JOHNSVILLE -- Fannie Martin, 93, died Friday in a Stephenville hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel.