Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 14 Nov 2000

Submitted by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp  cbodessa@classicnet.net

Thanks to the Odessa American Online
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   OA Online Obituaries.
   
November 14, 2000

Permian Basin Obituaries

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   GAINESVILLE Harry L. Couch, 79, passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000, at
   Medical  Center  Hospital.  Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m.
   today  at  Carrol  Funeral  Home in Gainesville under the direction of
   Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.
   
   Harry  was  born  Sept.  11,  1921,  to Harry Franklin Couch and Vesta
   Bridges  in  Cooke County. He graduated from St. Marys High School and
   Cooke  County  Business  College.  In  1953,  he married Ruth Virginia
   Myers, and together they had three sons. He was Methodist.
   
   Harry  was  a World War II veteran, having served as an Army Air Corps
   flight  instructor  from  1939 to 1944 at the Coleman Flying School in
   Coleman  while  at  the  same  time  training  as a B-29 bomber flight
   engineer.  In  the  months  following  the war, Lt. Couch served on an
   11-man  crew  that  flew  all  the "Superfortress" bombers in Texas to
   Pyote  Air Force Base in Ward County. Harry was a colonel in the Ghost
   Squadron of the West Texas Wing of the Confederate Air Force.
   
   Following  service  to  his  country, Harry returned to Gainesville to
   work  for his father at Couch Drilling Company, with which Harry first
   became  associated  in  1937.  Later,  he  set  out  on  his own as an
   independent  oil  and  gas  broker, drilling wells in Texas, Oklahoma,
   Colorado  and  Wyoming  in  the  1950s  and 60s. On Oct. 18, 1972, the
   Permian  Basin  Oil  Show  presented  Harry with its Petroleum Pioneer
   Certificate of Recognition for a lifetime of efforts and contributions
   that led to the development of the worldwide petroleum industry.
   
   Harry  is survived by his wife, Ruth Couch of Gainesville; sons, Jerry
   Couch of Houston, David Couch of Seattle and James C. Couch of Odessa;
   sisters,  Doris  Cooper  of  Odessa, Frankie Prichard and Helen McVoy,
   both  of Dallas; brother, Don Couch of Gainesville; grandchildren, Don
   Marie  Couch  of  California,  Brian  Couch  and  Brady Couch, both of
   Odessa, Marjorie and Daniel Couch of Seattle and Zachary Daytona Couch
   of Houston.
   
   Harry  was  a devoted family man, a loving husband and best friend and
   favorite  teacher to his sons. In every sense of the word, Harry was a
   provider, and not just to his immediate family. Harry never could turn
   his  back  on  anyone in any kind of trouble or need. His many acts of
   kindness will long live on.
   
   Gods speed, Harry.
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