Today's Obituaries (Aug. 12, 1998)

B.F. 'Bennie' Windham

B.F. "Bennie" Windham, 92, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Ron Curtis officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Born in Coryell County, Mr. Windham married Thelma Mae Farmer in Coleman in 1929 and moved to Abilene in 1931. He retired after 35 years in sales at Sears. He owned cigarette vending machines for 37 years and was a member of University Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one daughter, Wanda Gaulding of Abilene; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Elizabeth 'Dede' Peace

Elizabeth S. "Dede" Peace, 86, died Tuesday in an Abilene nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Dalbert & Woodruff Funeral Home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Burial will be in Vine St. Hill Cemetery in Cincinnati with local arrangements by Lawrence-Adams Funeral Home.

Mrs. Peace was born in Cincinnati and married Joseph Walter Peace in 1939. She worked in retail sales and lived in Cincinnati until she moved to Sun City, Ariz., in 1982. She moved to Abilene in 1995. She was a Methodist and a member of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Survivors include two nephews, two nieces and several great-nieces and nephews, including Dan Monnig of Anson and Cindy Monnig Karr of Abilene.

Louis Woodrow McHugh

Louis Woodrow McHugh, 79, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Elmwood Baptist Church with the Revs. John Wade, George Caffey and Price Mathieson officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 Hwy 277 South.

A Baptist minister for 40 years, Mr. McHugh was born in Electra. He graduated from Hardin-Simmons University and served in the Navy Seabees during World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Veda Rae McHugh of Abilene; four sons, Eddie McHugh of Brownfield, Tommy McHugh of Clyde, Jimmie Badgett of Farmers Branch and Dennis Badgett of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Lola McMurtrie Bowden Pointer

MOODY - Lola McMurtrie Bowden Pointer, 70, formerly of Abilene, died Friday in a Fort Worth hospital.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Memorial Baptist Church in Marlin. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene.

A beautician, telephone operator and bookkeeper in Abilene for many years, Mrs. Pointer was born in Wellington.

Survivors include three daughters, Carolyn Boeche of Waco, Judy Lewis of Abilene and Cindy Drobena of Eddy; one son, Jerry Bowden of Hodges; her ex-husband, Wayne Bowden of Abilene; three sisters, Leona Marshall of Wichita Falls, Ruby Murley of Blacksburg, Va., and Judy Solberg of Las Cruses, N.M.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Memorials may be sent to National Kidney Foundation of Texas, 13500 Midway Road, Suite 101, Dallas 75244 or American Lung Association of Texas, P.O. Box 26460, Austin 78755.

Lois Lamb Wright

BROWNWOOD - Lois Lamb Wright, 85, a funeral director for over 50 years, died Monday in a Brownwood nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood with the Rev. Donald Scott officiating, directed by Stevens Funeral Home of Coleman.

Born in Bakersfield, Calif., Mrs. Wright grew up in Brownwood and graduated from Brownwood High School. She attended Daniel Baker College in Brownwood for three years and married Mike Wright, a licensed mortician, at her home in Brownwood in 1935.

After her marriage, she studied for and passed the first state board examination ever given in 1935 and became a licensed funeral director. The Wrights lived and worked in McGregor, at Horne's Funeral Home in Coleman and at Ballinger Funeral Home. They owned and operated Wright Funeral Home in Coleman from 1939-1958 and Wright Funeral Home in Brownwood from 1958-1976. Mrs. Wright was a member of First United Methodist Church, the women's auxiliary of Brownwood Hospital, the Altrusa Club and the Woman's Club of Brownwood. She was a member and past president of Newcomer's Club and Brush and Pallette Club. She served on the board of the American Cancer Society and was listed in the 1971 edition of Who's Who of American Women.

Survivors include one son, Mickey Wright of Dallas; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Her body will lie in state until 10 a.m. today at the funeral home and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the chapel of First United Methodist.

Columbus Evers Sr.

ROBY - Columbus L. Evers Sr., 75, died Monday in a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mickey Wagoner officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories in Paducah, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home of Rotan.

A school teacher for 36 years, Mr. Evers was born in Harleton and married Bertie Viola Haston in 1943 in Paducah. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.

Survivors include his wife, of Roby; one daughter, Patricia Dougherty of Spur; three sons, C.L. "Sonny" Evers Jr. of Cleburne, Dale Evers of Atlanta, Ga., and Stephen Evers of San Angelo; his mother, Thelma Evers of Jefferson; four sisters, Modene Graves of Lubbock, Betty Jo Seals of Rossville, Ga., Linda Stringfellow of Hallsville and Clysta Gene Bratton of Longview; three brothers, W.F. Evers of Lubbock and Billy Roy Evers and Jerry Evers, both of Harleton; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or to Roby VFW.

Lillian Preas

BROWNWOOD - Lillian Preas, 99, died Tuesday in a Brownwood hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. R.J. Elkins officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Born in Pulaski, Tenn., Mrs. Preas married John W. Preas in Santa Anna in 1918, and the couple moved to Brownwood in 1927. She was a Harvey Girl for 10 years, until the Harvey House closed during the depression. The Preas ran a cafe from 1940 until 1955, and Mrs. Preas continued cafe work until 1967. She was also a private duty nurse for 17 years, and didn't retire until she reached the age of 82.

A member of the Brownwood Rebekah Lodge since 1931, Mrs. Preas served as Noble Grand four terms and the other offices many times. She was Lodge Deputy for 15 years and District Deputy for two years, and she represented her lodge at the state assembly for 12 years. She received the Decoration of Chivalry in 1947, the highest honor that the lodge can give.

Survivors include two daughters, Mildred Graves of Kerrville and Bessie Mae "Bunk" Ellis of Brownwood; one brother, Bill Davis of Midland; six grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Visitation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Nathan Hellums

RISING STAR - Nathan R. A. Hellums, 64, of Waco, formerly of Rising Star, died Monday in a Waco hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with Gary Adams officiating and Jim Nash assisting. Burial will be in Rising Star Cemetery.

Born in Sidney, Mr. Hellums gew up in Rising Star and lived there until he joined the Army. After his military service he moved to Waco, where he lived for the past 27 years. He worked part-time for the Veterans Administration hospital and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include one son, Dwayne Hellums; one daughter, Linda Langley of Arkansas; seven sisters, Maurice Martin, Cassie Allen and Olena Ezzell, all of Rising Star, Pauline Parsons of Baird, LaFond Ghormley of Deer Park, Uva Jones of Cross Plains and Georgia Walker of Lufkin; one grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

Charles Darrell 'C.D.' Walker

BROWNWOOD - Charles Darrell "C.D." Walker, 84, died Tuesday at home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Jordan Springs Cemetery in Brown County.

Born in Burnet, Mr. Walker married Lillian Winona Caraway in Levelland in 1934. He farmed until 1961 and ran a motel before retiring in 1988.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; one son, Don Walker of Brownwood; one sister, Louise DeBord of Morton; three grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Columbia Hospice.

Francis Marion Rowan

SWEETWATER - Francis Marion Rowan, 91, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with the Rev. Larry Garnto and Tim O'Brien officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories.

Mr. Rowan was born in Chickasha, Okla., and married Mattie Lee Hale in 1931 in Roby. He farmed near Sweetwater for many years before moving there in 1955. He retired after 25 years with Sweetwater Cotton Oil Mill and was a member of Fourth and Pine Church of God.

Survivors include two daughters, Frances Lee Utley of Mineola and Margaret Proctor of Sweetwater; three sons, Billy Gerald Rowan of Pearsall, Jackie Edd Rowan of Sweetwater and J.D. Rowan of Roscoe; one sister, Marie Veal of Sweetwater; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild and one step-great-great-great-grandchild.

Jack Earl Young Jr.

Jack Earl Young Jr., 49, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Bob Richardson

COLORADO CITY - Bob Richardson, 49, of Abilene, formerly of Colorado City, died Monday in Abilene. Services are pending with Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Gladys Largent

BRECKENRIDGE - Gladys Largent died Tuesday at home. Services are pending with Morehart Mortuary.

Alvin Roberts

BIG SPRING - Alvin Roberts, 64, died Tuesday at home. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Thelma Lafern Russell

BRECKENRIDGE - Thelma Lafern Russell, 74, of Kermit died Tuesday in a Kermit hospital. Services are pending with Melton Funeral Home.

Norma June Pedra Smiley

GOLDTHWAITE - Norma June Pedra Smiley, 69, of Seaside, Calif., died Saturday in a Monterrey, Calif., hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery, directed by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home.

James Edward Head

DUBLIN - James Edward Head, 53, died Sunday in a Fort Worth hospital. Services will be at 6 p.m. Friday in St. Mary's Catholic Church, directed by Harrell Funeral Home.

Samuel Jamal Modkins

SWEETWATER - Samuel Jamal Modkins, age 6 1/2 months, died July 31 in El Paso. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories.

Mary Juanita Stokes

ODESSA - Mary Juanita Stokes, 40, formerly of Ballinger, died Friday in an Odessa hospital. Services were in Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel.

Joyce Se'Christ

STEPHENVILLE - Joyce Se'Christ, 59, died Monday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Smith Springs Cemetery, directed by Lacy Funeral Home.