Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 27 Oct 1999

Submitted by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp  cbodessa@classicnet.net

Thanks to the Odessa American Online
http://www.oaoa.com/

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   OA Online Obituaries. 
   
October 27, 1999

Permian Basin Obituaries

     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Earl Lankford
   
   ALPINE -- Earl Lankford, a resident of the Alpine and Marfa area since
   1929, died Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999, at his family home in Alpine. He was
   born in Loving, N.M., Nov. 8, 1919.
   
   Graveside  services  will  be  held  at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Elm Grove
   Cemetery in Alpine. Geeslin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
   
   A  1936 graduate of Alpine High School, Mr. Lankford attended Sul Ross
   University before being accepted in the Army Air Corps. He reported to
   Kelly  Field  Dec.  18,  1941,  as  an  aviation  cadet. Shortly after
   completing  pilot  training at Foster Field, Victoria, he was assigned
   to  a medium bombardment duty with a B-25 Mitchell Bomber group in the
   South  Pacific.  For  his  service  he  was  awarded  Air Medal with a
   cluster,  an  Asiatic  Pacific Theater Medal with two-campaign cluster
   and Meritorious Medal for his foreign service.
   
   After  separation  from  active duty as a captain in the Air Force, he
   remained  in  the  Air  Force  Reserves  until  his  retirement  as  a
   lieutenant  colonel  in  1984.  Mr.  Lankford  also remained active in
   aviation by assisting in the organization of Civil Air Patrol units in
   Alpine and Marfa. His active duty and reserve duty covered a period of
   42 years.
   
   Mr.  Lankford  had  lived  in  Marfa  since  1948 and retired from the
   Immigration Service in 1976.
   
   Mr.  Lankford  was  preceded  in  death  by his first wife, Clarice R.
   Lankford, who died in 1979.
   
   He  is survived by his wife, Jane S. Lankford, and her children: Nancy
   Armstrong,  Kathy  Donnell, Shirley Allen and Charles Stover and their
   families.
   
   He is also survived by his sister, Dalma L. Morrow of Big Lake; niece,
   Vivian  Jones  and  her  husband, Newton Jones, and two great nephews,
   Andrew and Sam Jones of Dallas.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
                                      
   
   ODESSA  -- Beverley Joan Simmons, 44, of Odessa, died Monday, Oct. 25,
   1999, at her residence. She was born Jan. 6, 1955, in Odessa.
   
   Mrs.  Simmons  was owner of Sunshine Gardens and Gifts, and she worked
   for  her  dad as office manager at Heat-X-Changers Systems Inc. for 25
   years.  She  was a gardener and loved the earth and animals. She was a
   very  generous,  giving  person and gave without being asked. Beverley
   loved  to  fish  and  was  a talented artist. She was of the Christian
   faith and was a blessing to everyone.
   
   She  is  survived  by  her  parents,  D.W.  "Bud"  and Phyllis Dudley;
   daughters, Lanell Simmons and Erica Simmons; brother, Dennis Dudley of
   Atlanta,  Ga.;  sister,  Deborah  Dudley of Odessa; and granddaughter,
   Kristin Simmons.
   
   Funeral  services  will  be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at
   the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord with Revs. Preston Weatherly and
   James  Otterness  officiating.  Entombment  will be at Sunset Memorial
   Gardens.
   
   Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.
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