Today's Obituaries (Sept. 9, 1998)

Barbara Ann Pentecost

Barbara Ann Pentecost, 56, died Monday at a local hospital.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today at the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Curtis Cadenhead officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Pentecost was born Aug. 9, 1942, in Merkel and was employed with McMurry University and was also a member of the St. James United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Dalton T. Pentecost; two sons, Coy Bryan Pentecost and Wendall Scott Pentecost, all of Abilene; one daughter, Lisa Deshea Fellers of Ft. Worth; a brother, Dennis Ray Orsborn of Merkel; a sister, Velma Fay Martin of Abilene, and two grandchildren.

Lois Alma Balliew Elliott

Lois Alma Balliew Elliott, 89, an Abilene resident, died Tuesday at a local nursing center.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Moran Cemetery with Gary Adams officiating and directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Highway 277 South. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Elliott was born in Albany and lived her early life in the Albany and Moran area. She lived in Denver, Co., for 15 years before moving to Abilene in 1985.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George C. Elliott, in 1970. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include a son, Glenn Elliott of Houston; two daughters, Carolyn Elliott Sandoval of Denver, Co. and Linda Elliott Laurian of Corpus Christi; a brother, Robert Lewis Balliew of Denver, Co.; a sister, Grace Marie Balliew Clary of Cisco; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Alzheimer's Association of West Central Texas, Inc. P.O. Box 3344, Abilene, Tx. 79604.

Pete Barbian, Jr.

Pete Barbian, Jr., 69, a business owner, died Friday at a Fort Worth hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Benbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Benbrook. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Clyde Cemetery in Clyde. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

He was born April, 12, 1929, in Abilene to Pete and Ruby Barbian. He had been a resident of Fort Worth for 21 years.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline of Fort Worth; three sons, Roy Barbian of Baird, C.R. Barbian of Kingsland and Mac Franklin of Bosnia; two daughters, Nancy Norwood of Lueders and Sheila Franklin of Fort Worth; one brother, Jmayer Barbian of Abilene; one sister, Lena Tate of Dodge City, Ks., 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pearl Avants

COLEMAN - Pearl Avants, 94, died Tuesday morning at Holiday Hills Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow at Whon Cemetery.

Pearl Avants was born March 27, 1904, in Springtown, Parker County, a daughter of the late William G. and Mary A. Lavender Wynn. She grew up in San Saba County and moved to Coleman County in 1926. She married Aaron D. Avants in January of 1924 in San Saba County and he preceded in death on Sept. 3, 1973. She lived in the Whon community until moving to Santa Anna in 1973. She moved to Coleman two years ago. She was a homemaker and served as a substitute postmistress at Whon for several years.

Survivors include one son, Douglas Avants of Brady; one sister, Ethel Radle of Santa Anna, three grandchildren, two great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews.

Effie Pearl Thompson

STAMFORD - Effie Pearl Thompson, 96, of Temple, died Tuesday in a Belton nursing home.

Funeral services for Mrs. Thompson will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Stamford with Dr. Jerry Raines and the Rev. Jay Abernathy officiating. The body will be at the church two hours before service time. Burial will be at the Stamford Highland Memorial Cemetery.

She was born in Stonewall County to Thomas Jefferson Turner and Margaret Evelyn Simpson Turner. She married Milburn Dee Thompson in Aspermont. She was a resident of Stamford for 75 years before moving to Temple in 1985. She and her husband were engaged in farming and operated Thompson Hardware in Stamford for a number of years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Stamford for many years, and is now a member of Canyon Creek Baptist Church of Temple.

Survivors include one son, Charles M. Thompson of Temple, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or to the Canyon Creek Baptist Church.

Connie Frank Smith

BROWNWOOD - Connie Frank Smith, 89, a former longtime Brown County resident, died Sunday in Austin.

Services will be 1 p.m. today at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Norbert Peil officiating. Burial will follow in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mr. Smith was a former public school athletic coach and rancher. He was a star quarterback on the Eastland High School football team with a promising future in athletics until he broke his leg during a football game. He was a member of the Union Presbyterian Church and had lived in Austin for the past three years.

He is survived by one son, Woody Smith of Austin and one sister, Lela Mae Smith of Odessa.

Rexel Orlan "Rex" Martin

MERKEL - Rexel Orlan "Rex" Martin, 87, died Tuesday in Abilene Regional Medical Center.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Abundant Life Assembly of God with the Rev. Timothy Wiebe officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mr. Martin was born Aug. 1, 1911, in Artesia, N.M., the son of John William Martin and Orpha Postom Martin. He married Vada Turner on Sept. 5, 1958, in Abilene. He was a member of the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church. He was a carpenter and helped build the original Assembly of God church building. He was a volunteer fireman, delivered Meals on Wheels and a member of the Carpenters Local Union #1655. He played guitar and harmonica in a group that went and played at nursing homes and musicals in the community.

He is survived by his wife, Vada Martin of Merkel; three sons, Charlie Martin of Abilene, Johnny Martin of Merkel and Dean Martin of Killeen; one daughter, Billie Walters of Merkel; two sisters, Ova Hellwedge of Oklahoma and Eva Washburn of Scottsdale, Az., 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Inez Crawford Moore

TYE - Inez Crawford Moore, 80, of Tye, died Monday at an Abilene hospital.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Jim Ritter and Rev. Bill Perkins officiating. Burial will be in the Tye Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Moore was born in Hugo, Okla. She attended Tye public schools and Abilene High School. She worked for several businesses including the egg factory, Lankfords, Wooten, Montgomery Wards, Gibson and TGY stores. She had lived in Tye for 57 years. She married Billy Pat Moore in Abilene on June 20, 1936. He preceded her in death in 1991. Mrs. Moore was a member of Tye Methodist Church for 63 years.

Survivors include two sons, Billy Granvel Moore of Kennsdale and Eugene Moore of Arlington; a daughter, Dona Mae Graffith of Tye; a brother, Riley Crawford of Abilene; a sister, Irene Alvord of Hereford, ten grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Tye Cemetery Association or the Tye Museum.

Minnie V. McNulty

KNOX CITY - Minnie V. McNulty, 82, of Knox City, died at the Munday Nursing Center on Monday afternoon from a long illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Foursquare Church with Sequoyah Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in the Knox City Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.

Mrs. McNulty was born on Nov. 30, 1915. She married H.L. McNulty on June 20, 1934, in Benjamin, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 29, 1990. She had lived in Knox City for 65 years and she was a housewife. She was a member of the Foursquare Church in Knox City.

She is survived by one daughter, Doris Ann McNulty of Knox City; one son, Jimmy L. McNulty of Wichita Falls; one sister, Violet Gilley of Sylvester, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Angie Bridges

ROTAN - Angie Bridges, 89, of Rotan, died Monday afternoon at Abilene Regional Medical Center.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Belvieu Cemetery in Rotan with the Rev. Werth Mayes officiating under the direction of the Weathersbee Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bridges was born Aug. 1, 1909, at Winnsboro, the daughter of George and Ella (Payne) Shirley. She married Louie D. Bridges June 1, 1934, at Weatherford. She has lived in Rotan since 1935.

Mrs. Bridges received her bachelor's degree from North Texas University in 1932 and a master's degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1952. She retired as a public school teacher in 1968. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Mrs. Bridges is preceded in death by her husband, Louie D. Bridges, in 1996, her parents, a sister and seven brothers. She is survived by a son, Dee Bridges of Roby; a daughter, Shirley Montgomery of Rotan; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

The family list the Rotan Public Library, 404 E. Sammy Baugh Ave., Rotan, Tx. 79546, as a favorite charity.

Bessie M. Blue

GUSTINE - Bessie M. Blue, 85, of Gustine, died Monday in the DeLeon Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today in the Union Cemetery near Gustine with Gale Scott officiating under the direction of Hall and Sons Funeral Home of Comanche.

She was born Nov. 25, 1912, in New Mexico, the daughter of the late Lida Foreman and William Douglas Peterson. She was a homemaker and a member of the Gustine Church of Christ. She married Robert Edgar Blue, Jr. on Nov. 8, 1931, in Comanche. He preceded her in death Jan. 28, 1997.

She is survived by two sons, James W. Blue of Gustine and Bill D. Blue of Newburg; one sister, Lucille Hobbs of Fort Worth; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by six sisters, Linnie S. Anderson, Cora B. Baker, Mae Pettit, Lida Pettit, Della Dingler, and her twin sister, Lessie Morgan, and five brothers, Jim Peterson, W. Lee Peterson, Allie Peterson, Tom Peterson and Walter Peterson.

Memorials may be made to the Foster's Home for Children in Stephenville, the Gustine Church of Church or the donor's choice.

Frances Barkemeyer

COLEMAN - Frances Barkemeyer, 72, of Coleman, died Monday at Brownwood Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roger Hammonds officiating. Burial will follow at Coleman Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home, 400 W. Pecan St.

Mrs. Barkemeyer was born May 22, 1926, to Clarence Dewey and Stella Mae Baxter Gould in Burkett. She grew up in Coleman County and attended school here. On June 19, 1962, she married John Barkemeyer in Goldthwaite. She was a self-employed housekeeper, and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Frances Ann Barkemeyer of Coleman; two sons, Eddie Wayne Adams and Billy Smith of Abilene; one brother, George Henry Gould of Talpa; one sister, Ruth Kennedy of Coleman, and one grandson.

Memorials may be made to the Hendrick Home for Children.

V.W. (Sam) Wallace

BANGS - V.W. (Sam) Wallace, 92, of San Angelo, formerly of Bangs, died Monday at the Baker-Bramer Nursing Home in San Angelo where he had resided for several years.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Bangs, with the Rev. Jimmy Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Bangs Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home, 800 Center Ave.

Mr. Wallace was born Feb. 5, 1906, in Bangs to Mr. and Mrs. John Wallace. He resided in Brown County most of his life. Mr. Wallace was married to Marie Koch on Dec. 23, 1933, in Brownwood by the Rev. A.D. Bruton. She preceded him in death on March 1, 1998. They resided in the Mt. Zion Community where they farmed for 40 years. In 1973, they retired and moved to Bangs. The last several years he resided in San Angelo to be near his son and family. Mr. Wallace was a member and a deacon of the First Baptist in Bangs for many years.

He is survived by one daughter, Frances Justus of Frisco; one son, Royce Wallace of San Angelo; two sisters, Florence Cadelle and Ola Mae Holleman, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mr. Wallace was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, two brothers, Buster Wade and Lee Wade, and two sisters, Esther Sikes and Ila Bruton.

Stanley Leonard Miller

STEPHENVILLE - Stanley Leonard Miller, 66, died Monday in Harris Methodist Hospital in Stephenville.

uneral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bobby Baggett officiating. Burial will follow in Johnson Cemetery.

Mr. Miller was born Jan. 6, 1932, in Phoenix, Az. He married JoEllen Ham on Aug. 20, 1965, in Stephenville. Mr. Miller was a member and Sunday school teacher at the First United Methodist Church. He was also a resident of Stephenville for the past 25 years. He was a science and math teacher at Stephenville High School for the past 25 years.

Mr. Miller is survived by JoEllen Miller of Stephenville; four sons, Mark Miller of Springfield, Ore., Uel Miller of Stephenville, Thaddeus Miller of Temple and Brock Miller of Stephenville; one daughter, Ellen Wells of Cleburne; two brothers, Harold Miller of Medford, Ore. and Peter Jocobsen of Salinas, Calif.; five sisters, Roberta Mack of Fitzgerald, Ga., Mirriam Massey of Denair, Calif., Erma Honsalek of Duncanville, Susan Story of Meridan, and Jenny Henke of Richmond, Calif., two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Stephenville.

Doyle Wayne Reed

SWEETWATER - Doyle Wayne Reed, 65, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home in Sweetwater.

Clarence Tompkins

COLEMAN - Clarence Tompkins, 92, of Valera, died Tuesday at Care Inc. in Brownwood. Graveside services will be today at 2 p.m. at the Leaday Cemetery with the Rev. Raymond Jones officiating. Services are being directed by Henderson Funeral Home of Coleman.

Irene Kelly Robinson

BRECKENRIDGE - Irene Kelly Robinson, 92, of San Angelo and a former Breckenridge resident, died Tuesday in San Angelo. Funeral services are pending with Melton Funeral Home in Breckenridge.