Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 20 June 1999 Submitted by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp cbodessa@classicnet.net Thanks to the Odessa American Online http://www.oaoa.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OA Online Obituaries. June 20, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Earl Bates Tripp, 85, of Odessa passed away Saturday, June 19, 1999, in a local hospital. Earl was one of six sons born to Tom and Alice Bates Tripp on a ranch in Crane County in 1913. He is survived by his youngest brother, Jay; his wife, Viola, with whom he celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this week; daughters, Judie and her husband, Fred Gibson; Earlene and her husband, Bert Smith; three grandchildren, Dean Gibson, Beth Ann Kelm and Latisha Regalado; his six great-grandchildren, Sarah Beth Gibson, Brittany, Zachary, and Cooper Tripp Kelm, Rien and Marissa Regalado. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack, George, Bill and Lee and his beloved grandson, Lloyd C. Lane. With a great sense of humor and an incredible love for children, Earl leaves a void that his family and friends cannot fill. As a young cowboy, Earl broke his foot and thus ended up as cook on the chuckwagon, becoming a proficient cook with recipes West Texans love. In those days, neighbors went from ranch to ranch performing various duties and cattle roundups for each other. He especially loved to recall those early experiences. Although quiet, unassuming and modest, he never met a stranger. He was a fierce competitor who loved golf and bridge with friends. He was a faithful member of the First Christian Church and the owner of Tripp Petroleum Company prior to his retirement. He never failed to let others know, by example, that he had a great love and concern for them. Public visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m., Sunday in the Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday at the First Christian Church with interment to follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Viola suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Lloyd C. Lane Scholarship fund, New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, New Mexico, the Scottish Rite Childrens Hospital in Dallas, or the First Christian Church Building Fund. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Emma Mae Routh, 72, of Odessa passed away Saturday, June 19, 1999, in a local hospital. Mrs. Routh was born July 16, 1926 in Breckenridge. She moved to Odessa in 1943 and was a long time member of Central Baptist Church. She worked in the accounting department of Sears and Roebuck for over 30 years. She married Harold Lee Routh on May 5, 1944 in Odessa. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1993. She is survived by one son, Robert L. Routh of Richland Hills, Texas; two daughters, Sandra Stalik of Odessa and Geneva L. Vick of Alpine; two sisters, Willa Jean Ferguson of Princeton, Texas and Mildred Wharton of Odessa; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Public visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday with the family to receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday in the Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Ector County Cemetery under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Memorials should be directed to the Ector County Humane Society. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- David Michael Sterling of Odessa was called to heaven Friday morning, June 18, 1999 at Medical Center Hospital. David was born March 25, 1950 in Elk City, Oklahoma. He married Tracy Atkinson of Odessa on May 22, 1971. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1972. During his college years he worked for Quicksilver Clothiers where he found his selling skills and his great appreciation of spiffy clothes. Whether hunting, fishing or conducting lubricating seminars, he was always immaculately dressed. He began working for Certified Laboratories where he became a top salesman for the company. Then he taught sales training schools, managed people and became a lubricant specialist doing seminars around the country for the company's top producers. David is survived by his wife, Tracy; his daughter, Chris Carrigan and her husband, John; his grandson, Cole, all of Odessa; his son, Jeff of Stephenville; his mother, LaDema Sterling, of Odessa; sister, Debbie Graves of Odessa; and nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Tom Sterling. David was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, a wonderful son and true friend. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a wonderful sense of humor with a great zest for life. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Asbury Methodist Church with the Rev. Katherine Strempke officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements trusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Zelma Williams ODESSA -- Zelma Williams, 82, of Odessa, died Saturday, June 19, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Carbon Christ Center with Rev. Jimmy Maples officiating. Burial will be at Murray Cemetery, Carbon, Texas. She was born Oct. 19, 1916, In Featherston, Okla. She married Hershel Williams Dec. 23, 1933, in Stroud, Okla. He preceded her in death in 1997. Mrs. Williams, a homemaker, moved from Milfay, Okla. to Carbon and then moved to Odessa in 1984 from Carbon. She loved to crochet and read. She loved her family and was loved by many people. Pallbearers will be Steve Shannon, Clifton Vickrey, Charles Kelley, Chad Gosnell, John Shannon and Earl Hamilton. Survivors include her daughters, Leora Williams and her husband, Bobby of Traverse City, Michigan and Frances Hamilton and her husband, Clyde of Carbon; sisters, Bertha Redford and Bessie Williams of Bakersfield, Calif.; grandchildren, LaCliffta Newby and husband, Jeff, LaCrissa Shannon and husband, Steve, Clifton Vickrey and wife, Pam, all of Odessa, Sylvia Gosnell and husband, Chad, and Charles Kelley of Carbon; 11 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family Hershelee "Cricket" Carter and Wayne and Katy Case, of Shawnee, Okla. Arrangements entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.