Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 8 Aug 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. August 8, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Helen Lyle Chandler ODESSA -- Helen Chandler, 98, of Odessa died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at Avalon Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 18, 1900 in Helena, Okla. to Walter and Myrtle Packard. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 1999, at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Dr. Johnny Dickerson officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Mrs. Chandler married Charles "C.B." Chandler Dec. 26, 1930 in Cordell, Okla. She moved to Odessa in 1985 from Vernon. She was a member of Westside Christian Church and a funeral director. Mrs. Chandler was an honorary Grand Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles "C.B." Chandler. She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Helen C. Warren and Aline Brown, both of Odessa; niece, Gene Black of Weatherford, Okla.; and several friends. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- George Julian Jr., of Hollywood, Fla., lost his battle with cancer and passed away from complications on July 31, 1999. Mr. Julian was born in Union Town, Penn., on May 14, 1916, to George and Viola Julian. He spent most of his youth in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young man of 16, George was drawn to a love of horses that would last his entire life. He would go to the nearby race track and first watch and then ask to ride. He wanted to be a jockey and did so for a period, but he was also attracted to the training of thoroughbreds. He got his first training license in 1936 at Lincoln Fields, Illinois. He trained thoroughbreds from that time until he made a decision to enlist in the Army Air Corps on July 27, 1942. George volunteered for a new combat glider program being proposed by Gen. Hap Arnold. He successfully completed basic glider training on March 2, 1943. From there he went on to advanced glider training at Shepard Army Air Field, in Wichita Falls and then on to Lubbock for Advanced Combat Training. All during this time, George participated in the refinement of the largest glider troop carrier of the Army, the Waco CG-4A. He was credited in his records with dedicated service in the teaching of judo, boxing and armed combat. Before leaving South Plains Army Air Field in Lubbock. George had been selected as an advanced instructor in combat glider tactics. In January of 1945, George was shipped overseas and immediately participated in glider invasions as part of the 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group. He was credited with the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He was awarded the Bronze Star and 3 battle stars for the Bulge, Rhine, and Central Europe. George flew in the last glider battle of World War II in Europe at Wesel, Germany, March 24-25, 1945. George's actions during that battled were chronicled in the book "Silent Wings" by Gerard M. Devlin, also author of "Paratrooper", the history of U.S. airborne troops in World War II. Upon being discharged from the military after World War II, George went back to thoroughbred training. In the 1950's, he trained in the New England circuit. In 1971, he began training thoroughbreds at the new Calder Race Course in Miami, Fla. He remained a trainer there until his death. George's son, Bill, has taken over the family tradition as chief trainer of the Julian stable of race horses. During his training career, George trained many champion horses, including Run Turn, winner of the 1991 Miami Budweiser Breeders' Cup, and Disapproved, winner of the 1995 Manalapan Stake. George Julian Jr. is survived by his wife Elsie of Hollywood, Fla.; sons, William Julian of Hollywood, Fla., Bob Halford and wife Theresa of Odessa and Mitch Julian and family of Maryland; daughter, Sally Koch and family of Maryland. George's last wish was to be cremated and his ashes flown to his son Bob and wife Theresa in Odessa to be "spread as an eagle" over West Texas. A memorial service, conducted by Rev. Jerry Thorpe of Temple Baptist Church of Odessa, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Desert Squadron hangar, located at the south end of Schlemeyer Field. An honor guard from VFW Post 4372 will be present. Following the service, George's ashes will be flown aloft by a flight of friends, including Ray Pierson of Odessa, and Tom Fryar, also of Odessa. His son, Bob and daughter-in-law, Theresa Halford, will then spread those ashes over Schlemeyer Field from their World War lI vintage BT-13A trainer, the same type of aircraft their father trained in during World War II. Friends and veterans are sincerely invited to attend. "LEST WE FORGET" _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Richard Ransom Stewart, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, age 63, was born on June 14, 1936, in Midland to Louie and Nettie Tisdale Stewart. He passed away Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at his home in Odessa. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 1999 at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Johnny Witherspoon of University Park Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. Mr. Stewart moved to Hobbs, N.M., at a young age and graduated from Hobbs High School. After high school, he entered the workforce before joining the U.S. Army in 1958. He served for 8 1/2 years. He married Darlene VanHouten in Hillsboro on Nov. 2, 1967. They were living in Odessa at that time. Mr. Stewart was a landlord for 30 years and a postal carrier for nine of those years. Mr. Stewart was a member of University Park Baptist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Moose Lodge. Mr. Stewart also enjoyed playing golf. Survivors include his wife, Darlene Stewart of Odessa; his children, Linda Darlene Whitley of Belton, Donald Wayne VanHouten of Pampa, David Neal VanHouten of Greenville, S.C., Deanna Marie Goodman of Carrollton, Dayne Sheree Stewart of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jeffrey Richard Stewart of Odessa. He is also survived by two brothers, George L. Stewart of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jim L. Stewart of Odessa; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many other family members and friends. Family and friends were a very important part of Mr. Stewart's life, and he valued those relationships. Visitation with the family will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Obera Mary Susan Hagar Todd, 92, of Odessa died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at Avalon Place. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Church of God, 2212 East 11th Street, with the Rev. Martin Kehler officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. She was born in Eastland County and moved to Odessa in 1962. She retired from Wacker's Variety Store in 1968 and established a child-care center, which she ran until 1988. Along with her sons, she invested quite extensively in real estate. God, family and church were always at the very center of her life. She was a lifelong member of the Church of God in Anderson, Ind. She was preceded in death by one son, H.L. Todd Jr., who died Oct. 27, 1996. She is the last surviving child of Samuel Monroe and Fannie Belle Tucker Hagar. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Effie McGough, Faye R. Smith and Helen L. Motes of Eastland. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, William Thomas Hagar of Ranger and Delbert Clarence Hagar of Eastland. She is survived by one son, Bob G. Todd, and his wife, Betty, of Odessa; one daughter-in-law Carol Ann Todd of Odessa; two granddaughters, Susan Todd-Redman and her husband, Geoffrey, of Fredricksburg and Ellen Todd-Good and her husband, William, of Lubbock; and one grandson, John B. Todd of Austin. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Alexander D. Good and Georgia K. Redman of Fredricksburg. The family suggests memorials be made to The Promised Land Christian Retreat Center, 822 E. Glenn Dr., Odessa, Texas, 79766 or First Church of God Missions Dept. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Walter Fairman Taff of Odessa was born May 19, 1911, and entered eternal life at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio on Saturday, Aug. 6, 1999. He was preceded in death by one son, Bobby Ray Taff; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Taff; and all his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathleen Wilson Taff of Odessa; his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Suzan Taff of San Antonio; one grandson, Colin Taff of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; one granddaughter and her husband, Ashley and Larry Gee of San Antonio. He was born in San Saba and later lived in Winters. Walter, Kathleen and their son moved to Odessa in 1945. He worked for Dunigan Tool and Supply for 33 years and later for Texas Flange until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years where he was an usher and a former member of the board. Walter was a member of the Standifer's Men's Sunday school class. Other survivors include his wife's sisters, Frances Crenshaw and her husband, Curtis, of Atlanta, Ga., Nina Jones of Dallas, Betty Smith and her husband, Ralph, of Midland, Jorita Sweatmon of San Antonio, Claydene Harmon and her husband, Brooks, of Dallas and Emory, and sister-in-law Lynn Wilson of Odessa. Many of them, along with their late brother, shared the home of Walter and Kathleen at various times. Numerous nieces, nephews and their children also mourn the passing of "Pokey" as he was affectionately called by all of his family. Public visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Trout officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be his nephews and the husbands of the nieces. The members of his Sunday school class will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.