Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 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. Permian Basin Obituaries Copyright © 1999 - 2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved ============================================================================================ January 03, 2002 Permian Basin Obituaries G.R. 'Dick' Chenot ODESSA - Dick was born February 20, 1915, near Louisville, Ohio to Charles W. and Pearl (Richardson) Chenot. He moved to a farm near North Canton, Ohio in 1920. His first six grades were spent at Apple Grove School, a one-room school. He then attended North Canton schools until his high school graduation in 1932. Dick was employed by the Hoover Vacuum Company from 1933-1940 as a machine operator. In 1940, he enrolled in the New Mexico School of Mines in Socorro, New Mexico. However, World War II interrupted his educational plans for the next 3 1/2 years. Dick enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, a branch of the U.S. Navy during wartime, in 1942. He saw service in the Atlantic aboard the troop ship USS Wakefield, and in the Pacific aboard the patrol frigate USS Grand Forks. He was released to inactive duty in December 1945. He re-enrolled at New Mexico School of Mines in January 1946, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering in 1948. While serving on the USS Grand Fork, he met Carol Ann Wehe, a former resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who was then living in San Francisco. Their marriage in 1945 followed a short courtship that has lasted over 56 years. After graduation, the Standard Oil Company of Texas put Dick to work in their Dallas office as an exploration geologist. He worked for them in this capacity for nearly 26 years. During these years, Dick and Carol lived in Midland, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Houston, Texas; LaHabra, California, and Denver, Colorado. Dick wanted to try something on his own, so he took early retirement from what is now Chevron Oil Company, and moved to Roswell, N.M. in 1974. For the next 10 years, he worked as a consultant in oil and gas exploration. Some ill-health and the oil "bust" occurred about the same time, so Dick folded up his office, and decided to devote the rest of his life to enjoying travel, golf, fishing, reading, and family affairs. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Arthur and Carl; two sisters, Evelyn Bennet and Kathlyn Campbell. He is survived by three sisters, Marie Kettering, Marjorie Cox, and Pauline Jacob, all of Ohio. He is also survived by his wife, Carol and their son Paul and his wife Lois, of Odessa, Texas, as well as three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dick was an active member of professional and recreational associations including, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Roswell Geological Society, Justitute Golf Association, Bronco Senior Golf Association and Eastern New Mexico Golf Association. Services are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at 4 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Chapel with Rev. David Weyant officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Charlie Strackbein, Roy Gladden, Don Bates, Virgil Lumpee, Terry Hudson, and Darren Hudson. Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Cooper and Jim Markel of Roswell, N.M. Services are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Esther Herrera ODESSA - Esther Herrera, 73 years of age, passed away Jan. 1, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. She was born February 16, 1928, in Vado de Piedra Ojinaga Chihuahua, Mexico. A homemaker and a Catholic, she married Gilberto Herrera Sr. on Dec. 25, 1958, in Coyame, Chihuahua, Mexico. She was preceded in death by her parents, Felipe and Maria Jaquez; and one sister, Rafela Jaquez. Mrs. Herrera is survived by her husband, Gilberto of Portales, N.M.; sons, Jesus Manuel Herrera of Odessa, Gilberto Herrera Jr. and his wife Irene of Albuquerque, N.M. and Richard Herrera of Lubbock; daughter, Socorro Herrera Davila and husband Gilbert of Manhattan, Kansas; brothers, Felipe Jaquez Sr. of Chihuahua, Mexico and Candelario Jaques of Phoenix; sisters, Alvina Jaquez Rey of Presidio, Maria Jaquez Duran of Midland, Guadalupe Carrasco of Odessa, Aurora Baeza, Elvira Baeza and Juana Venegas, all three of Chihuahua, Mexico; and nine grandchildren. A rosary will be recited today at 7 p.m. at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at 11 a.m. St. Joseph's Catholic Church with the Reverend Floro Hinacay officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons; Jesus Herrera, Gilbert Herrera and Richard Herrera; son-in-law, Gilbert Davila; grandson, Kevin Terry; and nephew, Jose Burrsiaga. Services are entrusted to Odessa Funeral Home. Virgie Ann Moss ODESSA - My mom passed away January 1, 2002, at her home with her family by her side. Virgie Ann Moss was born in Grand Prairie on May 24, 1909. She and her late husband, John Moss, moved from Dallas to Odessa in the 50s. They built, owned and operated the Rivera and Marquee West Apartments in Odessa. Virgie was preceded in death by her husband John Moss. She is survived by a daughter, Eleoweese Elder of Odessa; three grandsons and their wives, John and Michelle Elder of San Antonio, James and Hazel Elder of Odessa and David and Rene Elder of Shertz. Her great-grandchildren, John and Melissa Freund of San Antonio, Toby and Tiffany Latham of Odessa, John and Bonda Elder of Odessa, Katie, Blair and Michael Elder of San Antonio and Shertz. Two great-great-grandchildren, Hogan James Elder of Odessa and Allison Morgan Freund of San Antonio. Her family loves her and will miss her dearly. Graveside services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 3, 2002. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Billie McClendon Odom MIDLAND - Mrs. Odom was born July 23, 1932, in Pettit, Texas, to Albert and Della McClendon. She was raised and educated there. Billie has lived in the Midland community for the past 41 years and married Gene Odom in Midland on July 17, 1949. Mrs. Odom was preceded in death by her parents and sister Wanda Hartis. She is survived by her husband; son, Ron Odom and his wife Janie of Leander, Texas; daughter, Diane and her husband James Montag of Lago Vista, Texas; sister, Betty McGlothlin of Lubbock, Texas. Also surviving are five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Billie died January 1, 2002, at a Midland hospital. Graveside services have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at Resthaven Memorial Park with Rev. Gail Reeves officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Guadalupe L. Romero ODESSA - Mass will be celebrated for Guadalupe L. Romero, 42, of Odessa at 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Floro Hinacy officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Martinez Funeral Home. Rosary was said at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Martinez Funeral Home. Mr. Romero died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at his residence. He was born Feb. 28, 1959, in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was Catholic. Survivors include his parents, Manuel A. Romero and Amelia L. Romero, both of Odessa; a son, Christian G. Romero of Odessa; three brothers, Manuel Romero Jr., Elco L. Romero and Rene L. Romero, all of Odessa; and four sisters, Dolores R. Benavides, Sylvia R. Urias, Veronica R. Alvarado and Araceli Romero, all of Odessa. Debbie Ann Benton Smith ODESSA - Debbie Ann Benton Smith, age 44, a lifetime Odessa resident, passed away after a lengthy illness at Medical Center Hospital on Dec. 31, 2001. Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Debbie was born July 22, 1957, in Abilene. She came to Odessa when she was only a year old. She was a 1974 graduate of Permian High School. She worked as a pharmacy tech for Clinic Pharmacy. Debbie loved and enjoyed life. Debbie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clarence L. -Red" Shults and Nancy Shults, who had raised her as their daughter. Survivors include her husband of over nine years, Johnny M. Smith, Jr. of Odessa; stepson, Kenneth Wayne Smith and his wife Deana of Bracken; step daughter Jennifer Lynn Whitmore and her son Hunter Nathaniel Whitmore of New Braunfels; mother-in-law, Wanda Smith of Odessa; a brother, Billy Roy Dickerson of Corpus Christi and her mother, Alene Jones and husband Curtis of Andrews. Services are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Ruby Pearl Springer ODESSA - Ruby Pearl Springer, 87, of Odessa passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at Hospice House in Odessa. She was born April 16, 1914, in Eastland, Texas to William and Roxie Brunette. She came to Odessa in the late 30s. She married her husband -Red" Springer on April 21, 1945, in Odessa by Rev. Arthur DeLoach at First Baptist. She worked in Headlee Hospital for Dr. Emmett Headlee and H.E. Hestand as an aide for about 6 years. She loved to correspond with family and friends and signed everything with -Oceans of Love". She loved working in the garden. Her parents, three brothers, three sisters and her husband -Red" preceded her in death. Survivors include her nephew Bob Rutherford of Odessa and a niece Betty Nicholas of Odessa and numerous other nieces and nephews. Graveside services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, January 4, 2002, with Rev. Bill Heggemeier at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family requests memorials to Hospice House at 903 N. Sam Houston, Odessa, TX 79761. Services are under the directions of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Roger W. Thompson ODESSA - Roger W. Thompson, 57, of Lubbock passed away at his home December 30, 2001. He was born October 5, 1944, in Rycove, VA. Roger was of a Christian faith and drove a truck for 30 years. He graduated from Salisaw High School. He resided in Odessa for most of his life. He worked for the Salvation Army for 7 years in Albuquerque, NM and for the past 3 months he worked in Lubbock for L&M Builders as a yard contractor. Roger is survived by his mother, Mary Hughes of Odessa; brother, Danny E. Thompson of Odessa and four sisters, Brandi Bridges of Odessa, Tracey Hughes of Dallas, Connie Hughes and Regina Taylor of Pauls Valley, Okla. Roger had five sons, Keith Thompson and wife Melody of Lubbock, Cody Allen and wife Lori of Spokane Wash., Justin, Zachary and Joshua of Kingston. Three grandchildren, Christopher Chambers, David Chambers and Jonathan Fowler. Roger also had one niece, Kayla Lambert and husband Darrell and one nephew, Terry Rosen and wife Sherry. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with Rev. Don Fankhauser. Burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Virginia Ruth Vickers ODESSA - Virginia Ruth Vickers, age 80 of Odessa, died Jan. 2, 2002, at Parks Methodist Retirement Village. She was born July 11, 1921 in Waco to Robert L. and Ruth Vickers. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday. Jan. 4, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Melvin Warren officiating. She moved to Odessa in 1928 and graduated from Odessa High School in 1938. She graduated from Baylor University in 1942 and from John Hopkins in 1948 with a degree in Physical Therapy. She was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air Corp, as a pilot ferrying planes out of San Angelo in 1943. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She is survived by several cousins and close friends, Betty Harmon and Polly Allbright. Services have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. www.wilsonfuneral.com Thomas Hamilton Yarbrough, Jr. SAN ANTONIO - Thomas Hamilton Yarbrough, Jr., was born on May 20, 1921, in Winn, Arkansas, and died Jan. 1, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Hamilton Yarbrough, Sr., and Nettie Adeline Walkup Yarbrough. He is survived by his wife, Helena McMillan Yarbrough; sons, Thomas Hamilton Yarbrough III and wife Joyce, Walter Earl Yarbrough and wife Patricia, and Patrick Feldon Yarbrough and wife Laura; grandchildren, Thomas Grant Yarbrough, Pamela Ann Yarbrough, James Albert Yarbrough, Kathleen Marie Yarbrough and Elizabeth Grace Yarbrough; sister, Flora Lanelle Lightfoot. Numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Family will receive friends on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Porter Loring. Services are scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday at Porter Loring Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors. The Rev. Jack Bush will officiate. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mays Family YMCA Center, 21654 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78258 or the American Cancer Society. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in the Guest Book at www.porterloring.com by selecting the Sign and View Family Guestbook icon. Arrangements with Porter Loring, 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, TX 78212; (210) 227-8221