Today's Obituaries (Sept. 17, 1998)

Mona Rhea Spraberry Beckham

Mona Rhea Spraberry Beckham, 62, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Burial will be in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories.

Mrs. Beckham was born in Lubbock and graduated from Lamesa High School in 1954. She married Wesley E. Beckham Jr. in 1955 in Lamesa and attended Draughon's Business College and College of Guam. She moved to Abilene in 1978 from Bowie, Md., and worked as a bank customer service representative in Abilene for 16 years. She was a volunteer at the Dyess Air Force Base Hospital. She was active in Girl Scouts and Officers Wives Club. She also was active in the food pantry at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and was a member of the Love Shine Sunday School Class.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; two daughters, Beverly Barnes of Coleman and Darla Foster of Allen; her mother, Jewel Murphy Spraberry of Gallup, N.M.; one brother, Richard Spraberry of Fort Worth; two sisters, Gay Crawford of Gallup, N.M., and Janis Cromwell of Bedford; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene 79604.

Mary Alice 'Ann' Hastings

Mary Alice "Ann" Hastings, 93, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 9:30 a.m. today in Elmwood Memorial Park with the Rev. Kathryn Boren officiating, directed by Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Mrs. Hastings was born in Tuloga, Okla., and attended school in Elk City, Okla. She worked for Grissom's and Minter's for many years until retiring. She was a member of Soroptimist Club and St. Paul United Methodist Church and was the widow of Bob Hastings, whom she married in 1934 in Clinton, Okla.

Survivors include one daughter, Pat Bice of Petersburg, Va.; two grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Suite 10, Abilene 79603.

Jack Barnett 'J.B.' Swafford

Jack Barnett "J.B." Swafford, 81, lifelong Abilene resident, died Tuesday in Dallas.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Swafford was born in Abilene and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He retired from Missouri Pacific Railroad and was a member of Palm Street Church of Christ.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

Thomas James Holland

Thomas James Holland, 57, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Broadview Baptist Church with the Revs. David Cason and Leo F. Scott officiating. Burial will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, directed by Curtis-Starks Funeral Home, 542 E.N. 7th.

Mr. Holland was born in McCaulley, where he graduated from high school, and moved to Abilene 10-1/2 years ago. He was a maintenance worker at the Fairmont Apartments in Abilene and was a member of Broadview Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Cork Holland of Abilene; seven children, Kirby Holland, Thomas Holland Jr., Alex Holland, Karmer Holland, Marcella Holland, Leslie Holland and Tonya Holland, all of Abilene; 11 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will be at 2701 Nonesuch, Apt. 2407.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Lana Sands

OCALA, Fla. - Lana C. Sands, 53, formerly of Abilene, died Sept. 7 at her home.

The body was cremated. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene.

Mrs. Sands was born in San Saba and graduated from Cooper High School in 1963. She married K.W. Sands in 1964 and was retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone.

Survivors include two sons, James W. Sands and Roy M. Sands; one daughter, Kristina M. Childs; her parents, James and Mildred Crawford; two brothers, Stephen B. Crawford and James C. Crawford, both of Abilene; six grandchildren; and one niece and two nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Georgia Tate

COLEMAN - Georgia M. Tate, 94, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.

Mrs. Tate was born in Comanche County and attended school in Newburg in Comanche County. She moved to Coleman in 1939 and owned a barbecue business, and grocery store. She also was an antique dealer. She was a former member of Coleman's hospital auxiliary. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was the widow of Clyde Elmo Tate, whom she married in 1926 in Comanche County.

Survivors include one daughter, Frances A. Henderson of Junction; two sisters, Mrs. M.E. Renfro of Abilene and Mrs. W.C. Smith of Mustang, Okla.; one brother, B.H. Hicks of Comanche; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

David Maldonado Sr.

WICHITA FALLS - David B. Maldonado Sr., 80, father of an Abilene resident, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Owens & Brumley Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Hector Medina officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Mr. Maldonado was born in Bay City and lived in Wichita Falls for many years. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a retired carpenter and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Survivors include four sons, Ben Jaramillo of Abilene, David B. Maldonado Jr. of Fort Worth, and Raymond Maldonado and Paul Maldonado, both of Wichita Falls; six daughters, Connie Perez, Irene Butterfield, Hope Hernandez and Rachael Lay, all of Wichita Falls, Mary Garza of Fort Worth and Stella Maldonado of San Antonio; 28 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Joanna Warren

CLYDE - Joanna L. Warren, 76, died Wednesday at her daughter's home in Abilene.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Jim Hall officiating. Burial will be in Clyde Cemetery.

Mrs. Warren was born in Atoka, Okla., and moved to Clyde in 1946 from Pampa. She was a homemaker and worked as a librarian at the Clyde Library for seven years until retiring in 1997. She was a member of the Church of Christ and was the widow of W.D. "Nig" Warren, whom she married in 1945 in Pampa.

Survivors include one son, Kenneth Warren of Bryan; four daughters, Belinda Dickey of Robison, Paula Wilson of Belton, Neva Gambrell of Abilene and Mary Meroney of Truby; one brother, Dewayne Lovinggood of Alvin; three sisters, Carol Cummins, Jeraldine Rodgers and Delores Sims, all of Pampa; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

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

Danny Oliver Combs

BLANKET - Danny Oliver Combs, 26, died recently.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early with Rodney Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Blanket Cemetery.

Mr. Combs was born in Dallas and moved to Blanket in 1996 from Comanche. He worked in construction and was a Baptist.

Survivors include one daughter, Samantha Christine Combs of Thrifty; his parents, Larry and Sandy Combs of Blanket; one brother, Larry Don Combs Jr. of Blanket; his grandmother, Bernice Combs of Grand Prairie; and one nephew.

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

Irene Harding

COAHOMA - Irene (Mrs. G.B.) Harding, 77, died Wednesday at her home. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.

Audrey DeLorme

A memorial service for Audrey M. DeLorme, 66, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Minter Lane Church of Christ. She died Aug. 23 in an Ogdensburg, N.Y. hospital.

Willie Delight Yarbrough

STEPHENVILLE - Willie Delight Yarbrough, 94, died Sept. 6 in Stephenville. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, directed by Lacy Funeral Home.

Alvin Frank Kuss

HERMLEIGH - Alvin Frank Kuss, 70, died Tuesday at his home. Mass will be said at 2 p.m. today in St. John's Catholic Church, directed by Wright-Colonial Funeral Home of Snyder.

Violet Scott

STEPHENVILLE - Violet Scott, 92, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Duffau Cemetery, directed by Stephenville Funeral Home.