Today's Obituaries (Oct. 28, 1998)

Former Eastland mayor dies

By ROY A. JONES II

Regional Editor

EASTLAND - Charles P. Marshall, former Eastland mayor, educator and civic leader, died Monday at his home after suffering a heart attack. He was 80.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Eastland High School athletic complex that bears his name - the Charles P. and Lois Marshall Sports Complex. The couple taught for a combined 83 years, most of that here.

The Rev. Marc Rogers will officiate. Burial will be in Eastland City Cemetery under direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

A native of Washington, D.C., Marshall graduated from Comanche High School, then attended Howard Payne University on an athletic scholarship. He starred on the track team, anchoring the mile relay team to the Kansas and Drake Relays championships in 1941. He also was president of the HPU Student Council.

Marshall interrupted his education to serve in China with the "Flying Tigers" during World War II, and earned a commission as a first lieutenant. In 1952 he earned a master's degree from Hardin-Simmons University.

He taught school at Comanche, and was serving as head football coach at Olney when he met Lois Bolding, a fellow teacher. They married in 1952.

He was named principal of Eastland High School in 1955 and served until 1969. He continued to serve the school district as a counselor and supervisor until his retirement in 1986.

He announced Eastland Mavericks home football games from 1955 until his retirement, never missing a Friday night in 28 years.

He was elected to the Eastland City Commission in 1974 and was mayor from 1978-86. He was active in the Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, Eastland Chamber of Commerce and Goodfellows.

In 1981 he received the chamber's Golden Deeds Award for his long community service.

In 1994, the Eastland school district dedicated its new gymnasium and athletic complex to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall in honor of their 62 years of combined service to Eastland students.

Survivors are his wife, Lois, of the home; two sons, Charlie and John Marshall, both of Dallas; three sisters, Eloise Parker of Comanche, Nona Laughlin of Odessa and Ruth St. Clair of Springfield, Ohio; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Marshall Scholarship Fund at Eastland National Bank or to the First United Methodist Church in Eastland.

Christian was 1998 Children's Miracle Network poster child

Andrew Dionte Bernard Christian, 4, named the 1998 Abilene poster child by the Children's Miracle Network telethon for his valiant fight against combined immuno-deficiency disorder, died Saturday in a Fort Worth hospital.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Mount Moriah Baptist Church with the Rev. L.W. Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, directed by Curtis-Starks Funeral Home, 542 E.N. 7th.

The son of Malcolm and Vanessa Christian, Andrew was born in Abilene. Suffering a stroke at age 1, the youngster soon began the long, painful ordeal of receiving treatments at various hospitals, including Meek Children's at Hendrick Medical Center.

Despite losing his immune system, which meant limited contact with other children his age, Andrew always surprised the doctors and nurses with an upbeat attitude.

"He just walks in and sticks his arm out, and they put his IVs in and start giving him blood transfusions, and it's just like a normal day for him," said his grandfather, Harold Christian, in an Abilene Reporter-News story earlier this year.

Although the outlook may have been bleak, people who knew Andrew couldn't tell that the little boy was suffering because he always was happy.

"If you looked at Andrew, you wouldn't think that he might die tomorrow," said Christian. "He looks like he could be a normal child.

"Every day that he comes in, he comes in with a smile. He doesn't act like he has this disease that could kill him at any time."

Other survivors include three brothers, Joshua Christian of Abilene, and Laquinn Christian and Malcolm Christian, both of Wichita Falls; his grandparents, Harold and Drucilla Christian, Ralph and Luz Christian, and Virginia Brooks; his great-grandparents, R.D. and Alnetta Hines, and Ella Mae Carroll; his great-great-grandmother, Sallie White; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. today in the church. The family will be at 1417 Orange.

Noma Gray Alexander

Noma L. Gray Alexander, 91, formerly of Abilene, died Sunday in a San Antonio care center.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Bob Hunter officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Alexander was born in Colorado City and was salutatorian of the 1923 graduating class at Roscoe High School. She passed the state examination for teaching after attending North Texas Teacher's College, now the University of North Texas, in Denton for two years. She taught school in Parnell, Crowell and Roscoe for a total of nine years. She began working in civil service at the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. in 1938 and moved to Abilene in 1947. She owned both Noma Gill's Antiques and Alexander Antiques and also promoted antique shows for 35 years until retiring. Through her support of Abilene Christian University, the Alexander scholarship to benefit education students was established. She was a member of Highland Church of Christ and was the widow of James H. Alexander, whom she married in 1961 in Abilene.

Survivors include one son, David Gill of Cisco; one sister, Shirley Dodd of San Antonio; and one niece.

John 'Jack' Schadle

John F. "Jack" Schadle, 71, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in North's Funeral Home Chapel, 4002 Buffalo Gap Road, with the Rev. Kevin Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Schadle was born in Dubuque, Iowa, where he grew up, and married June Goldsborough in 1949. He was in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and served in both World War II and the Korean conflict. He moved to Abilene in 1959 and worked for West Texas Utilities for 25 years until retiring in 1988. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2012 and, at the time of his death, was post commander. He also was a member of American Legion Post 57 and Non-Commissioned Officers Association.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two daughters, Pamela Groezinger of Abilene and Vivian Finch of Dallas; and two brothers, Bill Schadle of Des Moines, Iowa, and Larry Schadle of Kansas City, Mo.

Memorials may be sent to Veterans Memorial Plaza Fund, acct. 883-480, Dyess Federal Credit Union, 3661 N. 6th, Abilene 79603; or American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville Dr., Abilene 79605.

Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Robbie Eugene Taylor

Robbie Eugene Taylor, 82, died Monday in a local care center.

Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Martin Encke officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Taylor was born in Jones County and graduated from Hamlin High School. She was a homemaker and moved to Abilene in 1955 from Jones County. She was a member of the former Fair Park Methodist Church in Abilene and was the widow of Tom A. Taylor, whom she married in 1935 in Roby.

Survivors include one brother, John A. Teague of Abilene; three sisters, Clara Thorn of Anson, Mary Helen Cauble of Hamlin and Beth Black of Abilene; and nine nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

The family will be at 1225 Canterbury.

Melvin Horton

MERKEL - Melvin Horton, 88, of Big Spring and formerly of Merkel, died Monday in a Big Spring hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Tim Wiebe officiating, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mr. Horton was born in Merkel and also formerly lived in Abilene. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and retired from the military.

Survivors include one son, Ray Horton of Dallas; two sisters, Dessa Brewer and Sybil Corbin, both of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews.

John Fulbright

COLEMAN - John W. Fulbright, 76, longtime volunteer firefighter, died Tuesday in a Brownwood hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with James Bailey officiating. Burial will be in Coleman City Cemetery.

Mr. Fulbright was born in Shannon, Texas, and attended school in Rockwood. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and married Marie Heilman in 1946 in Coleman. He was a retired plumber and was a member of Triple L Club and Elm Street Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Coleman; two sons, J.W. Fulbright of San Antonio and D.L. Fulbright of Coleman; one brother, Noland Fulbright of Edgewood; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Elm Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 998, Coleman 76834.

Stephen McHorse Jr.

BROWNWOOD - Stephen A. McHorse Jr., 81, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Greenleaf Cemetery with Dr. Norbert Peil officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. McHorse was born in San Antonio and was a captain with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from Daniel Baker College and worked in civil service. He was a meteorologist both on the radio and in the Air Force. He also taught school. He was a member and former elder of Union Presbyterian Church and was active in the Latch Key Program.

Survivors include many cousins.

Frances Cook

COLEMAN - Frances S. Cook, 72, died Tuesday in a Ballinger nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Jenkins officiating. Burial will be in Glen Cove Cemetery.

Mrs. Cook was born in Shields in Coleman County and attended school in Centennial. She moved to Coleman in 1966 and formerly worked in the Coleman school cafeteria. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and was the widow of Gene Cook.

Survivors include one son, Richard Cook of Coleman; one daughter, Freida Horton of Selmer, Tenn.; one sister, Loyce Hamon of Coleman; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one step grandchild; and three step great-grandchildren.

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

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

Harold Marsh

Harold H. Marsh, 76, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Milton Autry

COLEMAN - Milton Autry, 83, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Walker Funeral Home.

James Robert Taylor

SWEETWATER - James Robert Taylor, 58, died Tuesday at his home. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Highland Heights United Methodist Church, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Osie Rowden

BIG SPRING - Osie Rowden, 85, died Monday at her home after a long illness. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Trinity Memorial Park, directed by Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Henry Milton Rogers

SWEETWATER - Henry Milton Rogers, 85, of Odessa and formerly of Sweetwater, died Tuesday in an Odessa retirement center. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Bobbie Craighead

ALBANY - Bobbie O. Craighead, 91, died Monday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Albany Cemetery, directed by Melton Funeral Home of Breckenridge.