Today's Obituaries (May 10, 1998)

Carl Albert Piel Sr.

Carl Albert Piel Sr., 70, marketing supervisor for West Texas Utilities for 40 years until retiring in 1991, died Thursday in a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Our Savior Lutheran Church with the Rev. LaVerne Janssen officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. in Rowena Protestant Cemetery in Rowena, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Piel was born in Westphalia and served with the U.S. Army. He married Ellen Jane Schmalzried in 1966 in San Angelo. He moved to Abilene in 1979 from San Angelo and was, as a member of the Texas Restaurant Association, in charge of Project Graduation and Taste of Abilene. He was a charter member and past president of WTU's Golden Years Retirement Club. He was a Life Spike member of the National Home Builders Association and also was a member of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club. He was board president for 10 years at Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, Dr. Carl A. Piel Jr. of Chicago; one daughter, Linda Jane Piel of Baird; one brother, Willard Piel of Ballinger; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

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

Rex Jones

COLEMAN -- Rex H. Jones, 69, died Friday in a San Angelo hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Coleman City Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Robinett officiating, directed by Walker Funeral Home.

Mr. Jones was born in Breckenridge and moved to Coleman County in 1936. He attended Coleman High School and Barber College of Brownwood. He married Helen Price in 1950 in Coleman. He worked as a barber and served with the National Guard's 36th Division. He was a former member of the Masonic Lodge and was a deacon at First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife of Coleman; three daughters, Peggy Densman of Abilene, Nancy Brockman of Sonora and Mary Joe Turner of Denton; one brother, Dr. W.R. "Bill" Jones of Cleburne; and four grandchildren.

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

Billy Mims

STANTON -- Billy Mims, 72, formerly of Jones County, died Saturday in Midland.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Stanton Church of Christ with Ellmore Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Gilbreath Funeral Home.

Mr. Mims was born in Jones County and moved to Martin County 68 years ago. He graduated from Courtney High School and was a World War II veteran. He married Betty Jo Deck in 1948 and was a farmer. He was president of the Stanton school board from 1973-78 and was a member of American Legion and Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife of Stanton; three daughters, Dianna Wischkaemper of Lubbock, Judy Dean of Stanton and Jo Douglas of Midland; one sister, Maxine Howard of Stanton; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society.

Frank Stevens

COLEMAN -- Frank Stevens, 88, employed by Martin Brick Plant from 1945 until retiring in 1972, died Wednesday in a Brownwood hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hamp Linehan officiating. Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.

Mr. Stevens attended school in Bonita, Vernon and Courtney, Okla. He moved to Coleman County in 1935 and also worked as a farm laborer and for the Coleman Oil Mill. He was the widower of Katie Jewel Wooley Stevens, whom he married in 1928.

There are no known survivors.

Tuck Blankinship

PADUCAH -- Tuck Blankinship, 73, formerly of Goree, died Friday at his home.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Paducah First Baptist Church with the Revs. Sam Crosby and Ed Peckham officiating. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. in Goree Cemetery, directed by Seigler Funeral Home.

Mr. Blankinship was born in Goree and served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He received two Purple hearts. He worked as a helicopter pilot for 33 years and was a King County deputy sheriff for 11 years. He also was a heavy equipment operator. He was the widower of Armenda Rogers Blankinship, whom he married in 1947. He married Shirley Pendleton in 1985 in Paducah. He was a 32nd degree Mason and was a member of Paducah Masonic Lodge and Goree Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife of Paducah; two sons, Jimmie Pendleton of Lubbock and Mark Pendleton of Paducah; one daughter, Laquita Gibbs of Paducah; two brothers, Louis Blankinship of San Antonio and Joe Blankinship of Killeen; six sisters, Margie Allen of Goree, Melba Feemster of Hurst, Shirley Lambeth of Munday, Jean Adkins of Celina, Pat Davis of Haskell and Judy Wallner of The Colony; and three grandchildren.

Margaret Turner

BROWNWOOD -- Margaret A. Turner, 100, died Saturday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Santa Anna Cemetery with Dr. Jean Law officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Turner was born in Brownwood and served as a registered surgical nurse during World War I. She returned to Brownwood 25 years ago. She was a Baptist and was the widow of Robert Turner, whom she married in 1920.

There are no known survivors.

Mabel George Tanner

RULE -- Mabel George Tanner, 85, died May 2 in Albuquerque, N.M. Services are pending with McCauley-Robison Funeral Directors.

Rolen Covington Jr.

BIG SPRING -- Rolen B. Covington Jr., 60, died Friday in a local hospital after a long illness. The body was cremated. A memorial service will be at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel.

Alta Ruth Israel

STEPHENVILLE -- Alta Ruth Israel, 71, died Saturday at her home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lacy Funeral Home Chapel.