Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 29 Oct 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. October 29, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Patricia "Patty" Whittenburg Elrod joined her Lord in Heaven Oct. 27, 1999, at the age of 62. She was born in Odessa July 30, 1937. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Steve Trout and the Rev. Donnie Williams officiating. Patty graduated from Odessa High School, then earned a degree in education from North Texas College in Denton. She returned to Odessa and taught fifth and sixth grade at Austin Elementary School. While still a teacher, she met the man she would spend a lifetime loving. She married Dr. Thomas T. Elrod October 3, 1964. Patty, throughout her life, was involved in numerous activities. In the late fifties, she helped develop a horse division of the Ector County 4-H Club. She was a 4-H instructor for more than 25 years. During this period, she formed the 4-H mounted drill team. The final season she worked with the team, Ector County won the state title at the competition in Houston. She was a member of the Odessa Old Timers Club where she actively served in many facets including secretary and two terms as president. A fiercely loyal resident of Ector County, she worked to improve her community. She found great fulfillment through her membership of the First United Methodist Church in Odessa. Over the decades, she taught Sunday school classes and served on several various committees including a guiding role as President of UMW. Her membership in the Fidelis Sunday school class and the loving relationships she developed there at FUMC gave her inspiration and strength. In the last 10 years, she was asked to serve as leader for her churches' prayer chain. Through her experiences directing the prayer chain she learned the power of prayer and the strength of a relationship with the Lord. She was in turn able to comfort and inspire others. Horses and cattle were a part of her heritage and an influence on her from childhood. Throughout her adult life, she took an increasing role in the operation of the family ranch. Whether raising an orphan calf on a bottle, or halter-breaking a young colt, she found enjoyment in working with animals. A lifelong love of working with livestock and loving the land was a trait she passed on to her children. Recently, one of her greatest joys was riding, training, and showing "Moonbeam," a quarter horse she personally raised. Patty was a loving and giving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest happiness came from her relationship with her family. Large family reunions as well as small personal family gatherings were joyous events. In 1997, she became "Grammy" when her first grandchild was born. She was preceded in death by her mother, Addle Mae Whittenburg. She is survived by her father, R. B. Whittenburg; her husband of thirty-five years, Dr. Thomas T. Elrod; two sisters-in-law, Jane Elrod and Doris Ann Arnold; her son, Thomas W. Elrod and his wife Paula; her daughter Tricia; and her granddaughter, Lauren Nicole Elrod, all of Odessa. Also, her brother, Richard Whittcnburg Jr., his wife Lisa; and two nieces, Kristin and Jamie Whittenburg, all of Lubbock. Additionally, her legacy is survived by Jesus Sotelo Gonzales and his family of Odessa. The family has requested that memorials be directed to the Memorial Fund of the First United Methodist Church of Odessa; or the West Texas Cancer Center; or the American Quarter Horse Associations. Services entrusted to Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Everett Hayes, 83, of Odessa, passed away Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at his home. Mr. Hayes was born Nov. 23, 1915, in Indiana. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors Chapel with the Revs. Sam Jordan and Don Heathington officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrange-ments are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Mr. Hayes married Viola Reed Sept. 23, 1934, in Shidler, Okla. He worked for Phillips Petroleum for more than 37 years, and he loved his company and loved to work. He and Viola moved to Odessa in 1948 from Oklahoma City. He is survived by his wife, Viola Hayes of Odessa; daughter, Nancy Thompson of Odessa; two brothers, Leon and Lavon Hayes of California; one sister, Ester Squire of California; five grandchildren, Debra Bushong of Odessa, Bernie Smith of Fort Worth, Kerry Thompson of Odessa, Sonia Adams of Odessa and Sammy Adams of Dallas; five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Gayle Farrington COVINGTON, La. -- Gayle Farrington died of cancer Tuesday, October 26, 1999, at home in Mandeville, La., where she has resided since 1973. Born Nov. 8, 1936, in Longview. A former member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Covington, La., A 1952 graduate of White Oak High School. She is survived by her husband, Herman Farrington of Mandeville, La.; son, Samuel Farrington of Houston; daughters, Jo Ellen Lyons and Angela O'Donnell, and grandson, Weston O'Donnell, all of Austin. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Covington, La., at 10 a.m. Friday. Arrangements by E.J. Fielding Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gayle Farrington Cancer Assistance Fund, c/o Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, #l Marigold Dr., Covington, La., 70433. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Robert Eugene Parks, 49, of Odessa, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at his residence. He was born Nov. 25, 1949, in El Paso. He married Deborah Dee Rodgers, Jan. 2, 1972, in Fort Sill, Okla. Mr. Parks graduated from Lawton High School in Lawton, Okla., in 1967. He moved to Odessa in 1979. He was employed as a painter for 15 years by Ector County Independent School District, and he was a member of Crescent Park Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Dee Parks of Odessa; sons, Bryan Reid Parks of Lubbock and Casey Wade Parks of Odessa; daughter, Holly Marie Parks of Odessa; brother, B.J. Parks and wife, Ann of Carrollton; father-in-law, Harry Rodgers of Lawton, Okla.; sister-in-law, Elizabeth King of Salem, Ore.; brother-in-law, Mike Rodgers of Ocean, N.J.; friends, Gary Weatherford, Valdo Valdez, Gayle Dobbs and Diane Watkins, all of Odessa. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999, in the Chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Fred Davilla officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. If desired, memorials may be made to Community Care Hospice. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Albert Sybesma GRANBURY -- Albert Sybesma, 85, of Granbury, a retired health care administrator, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at Lake Granbury Medical Center in Granbury. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Wiley Funeral Home Chapel in Granbury. Interment will be at Acton Cemetery with Dr. Charles Somervill will officiate. Mr. Sybesma was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Granbury. Born May 21, 1914, in the Hague, Netherlands, he came to the United States for training as a member of the Dutch Air Force. He served as a lieutenant bombardier and navigator in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He married Loraine McClure, March 27, 1943, in Odessa. Following his time in the service, he became the owner/operator of the Hillcrest Motel in Andrews for 25 years. Subsequently, he managed the Andrews Nursing Home, the Andrews Medical & Surgical Clinic and the Permian General Hospital in Andrews. Following retirement, he served as a volunteer for the AARP Defensive Driving Program, the Income Tax Assistance for Seniors program, the Andrews Adult Literacy Program and served on the Board of Managers for Permian General Hospital for 12 years. He was a charter member, long-time Elder and a teacher in the Andrews Presbyterian Church. He was also past president and member of the Rotary, Lions and Toastmaster Clubs and the Gideons while living in Andrews. Survivors include his wife, Loraine of Granbury; son, Pieter Sybesma and wife Anita of Austin, and Richard Sybesma and wife Susan of Fort Worth; sister, Mien Hordijk-v.d. Meer of the Netherlands; and six grandchildren, James Sybesma, Anaka Sybesma, Courtney Sybesma, Katy Sybesma, Brittney Ellis and Andrea Pizzatolia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Granbury or the Gideons International. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.