Today's Obituaries (July 5, 1998)

Maria Soriano

Maria Soriano, 53, died Saturday at her home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. Eddie Gonzales officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Ms. Soriano was born in Jerez Zac, Mexico, and moved to Abilene in 1978. She worked at Hendrick Medical Center and Abilene Country Club.

Survivors include two sons, Francisco Anderson and Samuel Anderson, both of Abilene; two daughters, Brenda Anderson and Bernice Anderson, both of Abilene; her mother, Maria Rosales of Jerez Zac, Mexico; five brothers, Jose Soriano and Antonio Soriano, both of Dallas, Manuel Soriano and Salvador Soriano, both of Jerez Zac, Mexico, and Jesus Soriano of Juarez, Mexico; three sisters, Carmela Tonche of Guadalajara, Mexico, Soledad Soriano of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Paulita Seymour of Abilene; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Lane, Abilene 79602.

Iola Hamilton Clinton

Iola Hamilton Clinton, 90, office manager of Central West Texas Milk Producers Association for many years, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First Evangelical Methodist Church with the Revs. Jerry McNeill and Ronnie Shackelford officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home of Cisco.

Mrs. Clinton was born in Ballinger and married W.E. "Bill" Clinton in 1940 in Sugarland. She was a member of First Evangelical Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Ed Clinton Jr. of Abilene, the Rev. John Clinton of Cisco and A.J. Clinton of Springtown; two brothers, Charles Hamilton of Laurel, Miss., and Wayne Hamilton of Amarillo; one sister, Betty Pluckett of Commerce; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville, Abilene 79605 ; or First Evangelical Methodist Church, 6010 U.S. Hwy 277 South, Abilene 79601.

Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home in Cisco.

The body will be at the church at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Ralph Smith

Ralph A. Smith, 86, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Hillcrest Church of Christ with Drs. Henry Speck, Roy Willingham and Duane Hale officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Smith was born in San Augustine and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State College. He earned both his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Texas. He married Sadie Lula Lieb in 1939 in Stamford. He moved to Abilene in 1942 from Chickasha, Okla., and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He taught history as a public school teacher and university professor until retiring. During his 46-year career, he was on the faculty of University of Texas, Hardin-Simmons University for 10 years, Oklahoma College for Women, Midwestern University in Wichita Falls and Abilene Christian University. He was a member of the West Texas Historical Association and University Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, David Randolph Smith of California; one daughter, Annette Allene Shelfer of Arlington; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.

Danny Pack

Danny Pack, 60, died Friday in Merkel.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel in Merkel with the Rev. Bill Scott officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel.

Mr. Pack was born in Stephenville and attended school in Noodle. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps and married Colyeen Maynard in 1960 in Abilene. He worked for Bowman Painting Co. for 20 years and later became a self-employed painting contractor in the Abilene area for 10 years. He was a musician for 30 years. He played the bass guitar in his band, The Texas Drifters, which he had for 15 years, and also played with Hop Elam and the Rhythmaires for 10 years. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two sons, Ricky Pack of Fort Worth and Robin Pack of Hawley; two brothers, Dicky Pack of Hawley and Raymond Pack of Abilene; five grandchildren; and one niece and several nephews.

James Richard 'Jim' Mauldin

James Richard "Jim" Mauldin, 56, of Buffalo Gap, died Thursday at his home.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Tye Baptist Church with the Rev. Kenneth Coates officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Mauldin was born in Abilene, where he was a lifelong area resident, and worked for the Department of Public Safety from 1967-71. He also was a serviceman for the Buffalo Gap Water Department. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include two sons, J.B. Mauldin of Abilene and Cody Mauldin of Trinity; one daughter, Mendy Wallace of Abilene; his mother, Dorothy Mauldin of Dubach, La.; two sisters, Jana Steger of Lewisville and Dianne Jefcoat of Dubach, La.; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene 79605.

Alvie Lee 'Fat' Stephens

COLORADO CITY - Alvie Lee "Fat" Stephens, 75, lifelong Mitchell County resident, died Friday in a local care center.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Kiker-Seale Funeral Home Chapel with Gene Parham officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery.

Mr. Stephens was born in Mitchell County and was a retired truck driver. He was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Patsy Robinson of Colorado City; three sons, Birdie Stephens, Eddie Stephens and Douglas Stephens, all of Colorado City; two brothers, H.N. Stephens of Midland and Ernest Stephens of Abilene; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Octavia Rosetta Thompson

STAMFORD - Octavia R. Thompson, 96, died Friday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Solomon Temple Baptist Church with the Rev. L.W. Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be in Stamford West Cemetery, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home.

Mrs. Thompson was born in Lee County and was a homemaker. She was a member of Solomon Temple Baptist Church and was the widow of Jessie Thompson, whom she married in 1936 in Rosebud.

Survivors include one son, Hayward Simpson of Houston; two daughters, Louise Cochran and Jewel Moore, both of Stamford; two sisters, Ellen Jackson and Velma Adkins, both of Pasadena, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 29 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Lena Santos Martinez

KNOX CITY - Lena Santos Martinez, 90, died Saturday in a Fort Worth nursing home.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Santa Rosa Catholic Church with the Rev. Kevin Fagan and Julian Estrada officiating. Burial will be in Knox City Cemetery.

Mrs. Martinez was born in Eldorado and was a homemaker. She moved to Knox County in 1944. She was a Catholic and was the widow of Dan Martinez, whom she married in 1928 in Navarro County.

Survivors include three sons, Dan Martinez of La Crescenta, Calif., Rudy Martinez of Visalia, Calif., and Eddie Martinez of Long Beach, Calif.; five daughters, Eva Flores of Knox City, Eloise Maldanado and Alice Johnson, both of Fort Worth, Rita Kirkpatrick of Saginaw and Linda Jecha of Austin; four brothers, Fermin Acosta of Long Beach, Calif., Marcos Acosta of Everman, Marshall Acosta of Altus, Okla., and Ramon Acosta of Tyler; and four sisters, Beatrice Rios of Wichita Falls, Mary Mitchell of Hot Springs, Ark., Virginia Martinez of Paloduro, Calif., and Louisa Ruiz of Fort Worth; 26 grandchildren; and 50 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to flower fund at Santa Rosa Catholic Church; or Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Lane, Abilene 79602.

Thomas 'Tom' Lewis Jr.

Thomas "Tom" H. Lewis Jr., 78, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Jay King

Jay King, 50, died Saturday in a Lubbock hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Eunice Tyson Sumner

BLANKET - Eunice Tyson Sumner, 73, died Saturday in a Brownwood hospital. Services will be Thursday in Loving Funeral Home Chapel in Portsmouth, Va. Local arrangements were made by Comanche Funeral Home of Comanche.

Jeanne Annette McCormick

COMANCHE - Jeanne Annette McCormick, 40, died Friday in Comanche. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.