Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 25 April 2001 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. April 25, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Johnny Alexander Miranda SAN ANTONIO Johnny Alexander Miranda, 13, was born March 29, 1988, at Darnell Army Hospital. He passed away April 22, 2001, at home after a long illness. His parents, John and Martha Miranda, were told Johnny would not live past one year, but with the grace of God shared many laughs and memories for 13 years. He made his brothers, Jasper and Michael Miranda, strong while he went through many surgeries and treatments. He shared many good times with those around him. He loved his cousins, Jacob and Joey Joven, and loved fishing, bowling and watching movies. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Joe and Yolanda Joven of Odessa; paternal grandparents, Juan and Vicenta Miranda of Odessa; brothers, Michael Miranda of San Antonio and Jasper "Taso" Miranda of Fort Hood; aunts and uncles, Javier and JoAnn Joven of San Antonio, Fernando and Odelia Joven of Odessa, Gene Miranda, Manuel Miranda, Anthony Miranda, Mark Miranda, Michael and Molachi Miranda, Patsy Rios, Connie Ramirez and Mary Miranda, all of Odessa, and Martha Miranda of Arizona; and cousins, Joey and Jacob Joven of San Antonio, Fabian, Crystal and Kristi of Odessa. Services will be at 9 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2001, at Fort Sam Houston Chapel. Visitation will be Thursday, April 26, 2001, at La Paz Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Edna Mae Whitefield ODESSA Edna Mae Whitefield was born Dec. 20, 1917, in Wingate to Tom and Lula Smithson. She graduated from Dalhart High School and attended Abilene Christian College, graduating with a home economics major in 1939. Edna Mae began her teaching career and then married Melvin Whitefield on Aug. 23, 1942. After Melvin was discharged from the Army following World War II, they lived in Stamford where their first son, James, was born. Melvin and Edna Mae moved to Odessa in 1949 where four more children were born: Ronda, Barry, Tom and LaNell. Edna Mae returned to her profession of teaching as a fifth-grade teacher at Zavala Elementary in 1963 and transferred to third grade at Reagan Elementary three years later. She retired in 1983. Edna Mae and Melvin were founding members of the Parkview Church of Christ, and over the years they were also active members of other congregations of the Church of Christ in Odessa. Edna Maes most recent church home was Tanglewood Church of Christ where her funeral was held Monday, April 23, 2001. The family wants to express appreciation to Ken Young and the singers from the Golf Course Road Church of Christ and to Dr. J.D. Cone and Lynn Money who spoke at the funeral. The family would also like to thank the caregivers from Community Care Hospice and the former Vista Care/Family Hospice along with the many others who provided assistance and encouragement over the past six years of Edna Maes extended illness. Edna Mae was preceded in death by her husband Melvin on April 23, 1976; her parents; three brothers, Foy, Price and Lonnie Smithson; and three sisters, Bonnie Lewis, Cecil Mathis and Ola Bacon. She is survived by a sister, Cora Newhouse of Searcy, Ark. She is also survived by her five children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to Odessa Christian School. Services were entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Lupe Velasquez Bullard ODESSA Mrs. Lupe Velasquez Bullard, 76, of Odessa went to the celestial mansion prepared by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 14:2) Monday, April 23, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. She was suddenly stricken with a cardiac illness two weeks prior to her divine calling. The Lord Jesus Christ brought Mrs. Bullard into the world as Lupe Anzaldua, born the sixth child of eight children to Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Anzaldua on Feb. 25, 1925, in Yoakum. It was in this small South Texas town that she grew up and gave birth to Gilbert Velasquez of Napa Valley, Calif., Mrs. Olivia Carmona, Ruben Velasquez, Israel Velasquez, Joel Velasquez, Rene Velasquez and Herman Velasquez, all of Odessa. She later met and married James Morris Bullard Feb. 19, 1960. The family then relocated to Odessa in 1963. Mr. and Mrs. Bullard had two sons, David and Hector Bullard, both of Odessa. She is also survived by the divine heritage blessing (Psalms 127:3) of 29 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Bullard was a prominent citizen of Odessa and was greatly loved by all who knew her. She was a dedicated employee of Fashion Cleaners for 38 years and an active member of Odessa Tabernacle Church for 10 years. A caring person with abundant compassion, she was a positive influence through her walk in the love of Christ (John 13:34, 35). Although the family and friends of Mrs. Bullard will miss her presence on earth, they have assuring comfort that she now walks hand in hand with the Master on the streets of gold in heaven (Rev. 21:21), cherishing the face of her creator (Rev. 22:4). They pray that many others will come to know the same peace, love and eternal life in Jesus Christ that Mrs. Bullard found before her earthly departure (Romans 10:9, 10). Visitation will be from noon Tuesday through 9 a.m. Thursday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 26, 2001, at Odessa Tabernacle Church with the Rev. Doug Herget officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.