Today's Obituaries (Oct. 20, 1998)

Former Abilenian dies in car accident

Former Abilenian Arnold J. "Arnie" Meyer, 94, died about 9:30 a.m. Sunday from an apparent heart attack after a motor vehicle accident in Lilburn, Ga.

Meyer was the father of former Abilenian Charlotte Bruster, whose husband, Dr. Bill Bruster, was pastor of First Baptist Church here from 1985-94.

The Brusters and Meyer were en route to worship at First Baptist Church of Decatur. Ga., when an eastbound ambulance that did not have its emergency signals operating suddenly turned left in front of the westbound car driven by Dr. Bruster, police said.

The Brusters received only minor injuries and Meyer, sitting in the rear seat, had no visible injuries, police said. All three occupants were wearing seat belts.

Meyer was dead on arrival at nearby DeKalb Hospital in Decatur, apparently of a massive heart attack.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Buescher Memorial Home in Jefferson City, Mo., with the Rev. G. Nelson Duke and the Rev. Thomas W. Nelson officiating.

Burial will be in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens under direction of Buescher Memorial Home.

A native of Tebbetts, Mo.. Meyer was a postal clerk in Jefferson City, Mo. for 38 years before retiring in 1972. He was the widower of Clara Mae Barger Meyer.

At First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, he was a deacon for 42 years and church treasurer and Sunday School superintendent for more than 20 years each.

In 1990, he moved to Abilene to make his home with the Brusters, and he moved with them to Lilburn in 1997. Dr. Bruster is national network coordinator for the Baptist Cooperative Fellowship, headquartered in Atlanta.

At First Baptist Abilene, Meyer was a volunteer at the Family Life Center and a member of the Majestic Sounds senior adults choir. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga.

In addition to his daughter, Meyer is survived by a sister, Mrs. Bert Schrimpf of Jefferson City, Mo.; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 301 E. Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, Mo., 65101.

Effie Fay Daniel

Effie Fay Daniel, 96, longtime Abilene resident, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Griffith officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Daniel was born in Haskell and moved from Jones County to Abilene in 1911. She attended Simmons Academy and was a homemaker and a member of Elmdale Baptist Church. She married S.B. "Sam" Daniel in 1926 in Jones County; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include four brothers, Roy Griffith, the Rev. Jack Griffith and Woodrow Griffith, all of Abilene, and Bill Griffith of Paint Creek; two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Donald Sandefur

Donald C. Sandefur, 56, of Abilene died Sunday at a Dallas hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Elmwood Memorial Park with Jack Conaway officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Sandefur was born in Abilene, where he lived most of his life. He was employed by Abilene Sheet Metal as a master plumber and was a member of the Church of Christ and a Marine Corps veteran.

Survivors include one son, Terry Sandefur of Davis, Okla.; one daughter, Tanya Shipley of Garland; one sister, Fran Holder of Lubbock; and seven grandchildren.

Frances Cook Ruyle

DALLAS - Frances Cook Ruyle died Monday at an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at noon today at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Northwest Highway Chapel with Roy Smalling officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Ruyle was born in Munday and graduated from Putnam High School. She moved to Dallas in 1931 and to Abilene in 1997. She retired from Dallas Presbyterian Hospital in 1980 and was a member of Walnut Hill Church of Christ. She was the widow of W.A. Ruyle.

Survivors include three sisters, Ina Baker of Las Cruces, N.M., Edith Hayes and Artie Bolick, both of Abilene; one brother, M.H. Cook of Clyde; and seven nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

J.D. Barnett Jr.

COLEMAN - J.D. Barnett Jr., 73, of Novice died Monday at an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Donnie Jordan officiating, assisted by the Rev. Milton Allen. Burial will be in Rough Creek Cemetery, directed by Stevens Funeral Home.

Mr. Barnett was born in Novice, where he grew up and graduated from Novice High School. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and was retired from Union Texas Petroleum. He was an ordained Baptist minister. He married Edna Ruth Gandy in 1947; she preceded him in death. He married Letha Beth Fread in 1957 in Abilene.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Johnny Max Barnett and Milton Lewis Barnett, both of Novice, and Edward Dugan Barnett of Brownfield; one daughter, Jacqulyn Ann Copeland of San Juan Bautista, Calif.; one brother, Glen Barnett of Water Valley; three sisters, Patsy Grohman of Winters, Sarah Davis of Abilene and Nena Wilson of Novice; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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

The family will be at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today.

Bonnie Crites

COLORADO CITY - Bonnie Crites, 71, died Saturday at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Jeffery Davison officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery, directed by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mrs. Crites was born in Pioneer and had lived in Colorado City for 50 years. She was cafeteria manager at Hutchinson School before retiring and was a member of Central Baptist Church. She married Freddie Crites in 1945 in Baird.

Survivors include her husband, of Colorado City; one daughter, Barbara Little of Kingswood; one brother, Franklin Marsh of Rome, Tex.; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several other relatives.

Jo Vetta Hardin

CORPUS CHRISTI - Joe Vetta Hardin, 65, formerly of Rotan, died Saturday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Weathersbee Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. L.D. Parks officiating. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Hardin was born in Rotan. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Rotan and was a homemaker. She was active with Girl Scouts, PTA and Little League baseball and football. She married Jimmy Hardin in 1950 in Roby.

Survivors include her husband; one brother, Maurice Heleman of Kingsville; two daughters, Evona Adickes and Teressa Ford, both of Petronila; three sons, Jimmy Wayne Hardin of Dickerson and Lester Hardin and Michael Hardin, both of Corpus Christi; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. C.C. 'Ruth' Woodson

BROWNWOOD - Mrs. C.C. "Ruth" Woodson, 94, died Sunday at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Don Newbury and the Rev. Don Scott officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Woodson was born in Sherman and had lived in Brownwood for 58 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Charles Craig Woodson in 1929 in Corsicana; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Craig Woodson of Fort Worth, Ben Woodson of Rockport and Jack Woodson of Austin; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two nieces and one great-niece.

Memorials may be made to Brownwood Public Library or to Howard Payne University Woodson Scholarship Fund.

The family will be at the funeral home from 6:30-8 p.m. today.

Wesley Duckett

BROWNWOOD - Wesley R. Duckett, 83, of Lake Brownwood died Monday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rocky Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Mark Bryant and S.L. Yeilding officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Creek Cemetery, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. Duckett was born in McCulloch County and had lived in Brown County since 1978. He farmed for several years and was a gin manager for many years. He was a member of Rocky Creek Baptist Church. He married Eva Faye Furgerson in 1934 in Tahoka; she preceded him in death. He married Mattie Kinsey in 1992.

Survivors include his wife, of Lake Brownwood; two sons, Royce Duckett of Plainview and Wesley Duckett of Odessa; one brother, Harvey Lee Duckett of Plainview; one sister, Alta Odam of Slaton; two stepsons, Billy James Kinsey of Dilly and Albert Ray Kinsey of Glenmore, La.; one stepdaughter, Margaret Ann Logan of Hamshire; two grandchildren, eight stepgrandchildren and six stepgreat-grandchildren.

John Jacob Astor Adams

TUSCOLA - John Jacob Astor Adams, 85, died Sunday in Afton, Okla.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Tuscola Cemetery, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home.

Mr. Adams was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and attended school in Bradshaw. He worked for El Paso Natural Gas for 26 years and lived in Pecos, Jal, N.M., Kermit, Goldsmith and Beaver, Okla., where he moved in 1961. He retired and moved to Tuscola in 1975. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Margarette Gladden in 1934 in Abilene. He married Chesta Long in 1995 in Winters. Both preceded him in death.

Survivors include one son, Don Adams of Dallas; one daughter, Holly Phelps of Afton; one sister, Beatrice Blankenship of Lawn; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Tuscola Cemetery Association, Box 293, Tuscola 79562.

Grace Marie Hopkins Dean

STAMFORD - Grace Marie Hopkins Dean, 83, of Fort Worth died Saturday at a Fort Worth hospital. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Peters Orthodox Church in Fort Worth. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Bethel Cemetery in Funston, directed by Kinney Funeral Home.

Nathan Williams

Nathan Williams died Monday at a local hospital. Services are pending with Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy. 277 South.

Evelynn Boyd

Evelynn Boyd died Monday at a local hospital. Services are pending with Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy. 277 South.

Gilbert Quinones

Gilbert Quinones died Monday in Florida. Services are pending with Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy. 277 South.

Loreta Agnes Miller Williams

GOLDTHWAITE - Loreta Agnes Miller Williams, 93, died Sunday at a local health center. Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home Chapel.

Winnie Elizabeth Kendall

Winnie Elizabeth Kendall, 98, of Abilene died Monday at a local convalescent center. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Kathryn Woods

STAMFORD - Kathryn Woods, 79, of Stamford died Sunday at a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Fairview Cemetery in Tuxedo, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home.

Iva Orren

COMANCHE - Iva Orren, 72, died Monday at a Dallas hospital. Services are pending with Hall & Sons Funeral Home.