Today's Obituaries (Sept. 16, 1998)

Blanche Tompkins Nelson

WEATHERFORD - Blanche Tompkins Nelson, 98, formerly of Knox County, died Monday in a local care center.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Johnson Cemetery in Munday with the Rev. Alan Barbee officiating, directed by White's Funeral Home.

Mrs. Nelson was born in Munday and moved to the Knox County area in 1902. She attended San Marcos Academy and Simmons College, now Hardin-Simmons University, in Abilene. She taught school, in her early years, and moved to Weatherford in 1978 from the Knox County area. She was a Baptist Sunday school teacher and leader in the Women's Missionary Union. She was named Texas Baptist Mother of the Year in 1959 by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She was a member of Weatherford First Baptist Church and was the widow of Clyde Nelson, whom she married in 1923 in Benjamin in Knox County.

Survivors include one son, Paul Nelson of Abilene; three daughters, Wanda Barbee of Bronte, Mary Lou Morgette of Austin and Ann Nelson of Fort Worth; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Johnson Cemetery Fund, Munday 76371; or Christian Education for the Blind, P.O. Box 6399, Fort Worth 76115.

J.L. Holmes

MERKEL - J.L. Holmes, 79, of Odessa, died Sunday in an Odessa hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel with Kevin West officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Holmes was born in Portales, N.M., and served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked as an automobile mechanic for 36 years and was a Baptist.

Survivors include four daughters, Pat Bingham of Azle, Lou Falks of Hawley, and Billie Milner and Margie West, both of Abilene; 14 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

Herbert Joe Allison

BROWNWOOD - Herbert Joe Allison, 72, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Greenleaf Cemetery, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mr. Allison was born in Colorado City and married Goldia Roberts in 1951 in Sweetwater. He moved to Brownwood in 1989 from Sweetwater and was a retired roofer. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; two sons, Jimmy Allison and Timothy Allison, both of Brownwood; one daughter, Anita George of Brownwood; two brothers, James Erwin of Coleman and Buddy Erwin of Los Angeles; two sisters, Faye Hollon of Sweetwater and Dorthy Green of Bryan; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Edna Helen Wahlen

STAMFORD - Edna Helen Wahlen, 77, lifelong Stamford-area resident, died Monday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Christ Lutheran Church with the Rev. Kent Wallace officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home.

Mrs. Wahlen was born in Stonewall County and was a self-employed beautician in Stamford for many years. She married Walter H. Wahlen in 1958 in Stamford and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Stamford; one son, Jerry Burgess of Port Aransas; one daughter, Karen Knepp of Irving; two stepdaughters, Peggy Pittman of Plantation, Fla., and Ellen Snow of Plano; two brothers, Edward Wolsch of Old Glory and Edgar Wolsch of Santa Anita, Calif.; one sister, Elvira Schmidt of Haskell; and two grandchildren.

Jessie Dority

BROWNWOOD - Jessie (Mrs. Doy) Dority, 81, of Lake Brownwood and formerly of Coleman, died Tuesday at her home.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel in Coleman with the Rev. Paul Smith officiating. Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.

Mrs. Dority was born in Sarepta, Miss., and moved to Coleman in 1954, Bangs in 1974 and Lake Brownwood in 1983. She was a member of Community Baptist Church in Coleman and was the widow of Doy Dority, whom she married in 1937 in Wichita Falls.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Walden of Burleson and Sonny Dority of Jacksboro; two sons, Allen Wesley Dority and Ron Dority, both of Lake Brownwood; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Community Baptist Church, 218 Lackland St., Coleman 76834.

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

Claude Bible

SANTA ANNA - Claude Bible, 80, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Santa Anna Cemetery with the Rev. Rubin R. Packer officiating, directed by Walker Funeral Home of Coleman.

Mr. Bible married Dorothy Carroll in 1939 and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He moved to Coleman County in 1945 and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Santa Anna; one son, James Bible of Coleman; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Robert 'Bob' Walker

BRECKENRIDGE - Robert L. "Bob" Walker, 69, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Elliott Street Church of Christ with Jim Cox and Darnell Boyd officiating. Burial will be in Breckenridge Cemetery, directed by Morehart Mortuary.

Mr. Walker was born in Baird and graduated from Hawley High School. He moved to Snyder in 1949. He married Edith Stephens in 1950 in Snyder and worked for Warren Petroleum, Gulf Oil and, for 38 years, Sharon Ridge R.E. Smith Operator. He moved to Breckenridge in 1989 from Snyder and was a member of Elliott Street Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Breckenridge; three daughters, Virginia Welsh of Odessa, Teresa Morris of Breckenridge and Rejeane Fogle of Austin; one brother, Billy Walker of San Antonio; two sisters, Sue Terrell of Odessa and Nancy Daniels of Pecos; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hendrick Hospice Care in Abilene, Abilene-Area Dialysis Center or kitchen fund at Elliott Street Church of Christ and left at the funeral home.

Thomas James Holland

Thomas James Holland, 57, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Curtis-Starks Funeral Home, 542 E.N. 7th.

Jack Barnett Swafford

Jack Barnett Swafford, 81, of Dallas, died Tuesday at his home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Alvin Kuss

HERMLEIGH - Alvin Kuss died Tuesday at his home. Services are pending with Wright-Colonial Funeral Home of Snyder.

Aurora Alvarez

RANGER - Aurora Alvarez, 80, died Sunday in an Eastland hospital. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Guy Coleman Heffington Jr.

BIG SPRING - Guy Coleman Heffington Jr., 42, died Sunday in Big Spring. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.

'Sandy' Irwin Sandin

STEPHENVILLE - "Sandy" Irwin Sandin, 63, of Stephenville and Arlington, died Monday in a Fort Worth care center. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Huckabay Cemetery, directed by Stephenville Funeral Home.