Ector Co. TX - Obituaries from the Odessa American Online Submitted by Sonny Hall shall@balista.com 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 =========================================================================== Wednesday August 21, 2002 Ralph Elwin Chenault ODESSA - Ralph Elwin Chenault, 87, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Aug. 18, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born May 27, 1915, to Jepatha and Mae Chenault in Quannah. Memorial services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. James Otterness officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Ralph served during WWII. He came to Odessa in the 1950s. He married Bobbye Trice in Odessa on Nov. 16, 1971. He worked for AAA Welding & Engine Co. He was Past Potentate of El Maida Shrine Temple in El Paso and Past Puissant Sovereign Red Cross of Constantine and Past Boss of Chuck Wagon. He had received his 50 year Fez Pin for the Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife Bobbye Chenault of Odessa; a son, Ralph "Bud" Chenault and wife Becky of Denton; daughters, Sandra Goff and husband Bob of Wichita Falls, Dana Slater of Flowermound and Debbie Lange and husband Terry of Odessa; and 10 grandchildren. The family requests memorials to the Shrine Temple in El Paso. Services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Roy R. Smith MIDLAND - Roy Reeves Smith passed away at the age of 83 Monday, Aug. 19, 2002. Mr. Smith was born on Nov. 17, 1918, in southeastern Kansas. He grew up in Wichita, Kan., and attended Wichita University. He joined the U.S. Army in 1941 and served in Okinawa and Japan. He retired from the Army Reserves having attained the rank of Major. He married Edna Lucille Henderson on May 4, 1941. They were married 51 years, until her death in 1992. He and his family moved to Odessa in 1961, where he worked for Mid-Continent Supply Co. as store manager. He worked for 37 years for Mid-Continent, retiring in 1983. He is survived by a sister, Sarah Ramsey, of Mulvane, Kan., and by his daughter, Sue Smith and her husband, Dr. James E. Huddleston of Midland. No services are planned. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Manor Park, 2208 N. Loop 250 W., Midland, TX, 79707 and Hospice of Midland, 911 W. Texas Ave., Midland, TX, 79702. Felix Tarango ODESSA - Felix Tarango, 76, of Odessa, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2002, at University Medical Center Hospital in Lubbock. He was born May 18, 1926, to Blas and Reyes O. Tarango in Valentine, Texas. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Martinez Funeral Home. Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Home. Survivors include his wife, Estela Tarango of Odessa. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Josefina Tarango. He is also survived by children from his first marriage: daughters, Maria Martinez, Adelfa Dominguez and Teresa Dominguez, all of Odessa; sons, Jaime Tarango of Van Horn and Fernando Tarango of Odessa; brothers, Ramon Tarango of Odessa and Alejandro Tarango of Pecos; sisters, Elena Ortega of Pecos and Elfida Lujan of Arlington; 23 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family wishes to remember Mr. Tarango with this poem: I Am Not There Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn’s rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. Harold Rydell MIDLAND - Harold Rydell of Midland passed away at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, after a long illness. He was born April 21, 1919, to John Alfred and Edla Olivia Rydell in Taylor. A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3011 W. Kansas Ave., in Midland with the Revs. Richard Edwards and Larry Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at St. Luke’s Methodist Church. He married Marjo Pinson in Ft. Worth at First Methodist Church on May 15, 1943. He lettered in football, baseball and track in high school and was a champion debater. He played golf for 60 years and made 4 holes-in-one, which he was pleased about. He was a Toastmaster for many years as well as a member of Optimist Intl. and Lions Clubs. Upon joining the Marines in 1942, he served in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with rank of Staff Sgt. He and Marjo returned from California and he entered TCU to complete his education and graduated in 1948 with a bachelor of arts degree in industrial psychology. At the time, he went to work for Mid-Continental Supply Company of Fort Worth. He worked for 15 years with the company as a store manager and they lived in many towns in the Permian Basin, including Kermit, Odessa, Andrews, Midland and San Angelo. In 1963 he was appointed as a State Farm insurance agent and moved his family to Odessa where he had his agency for 31 years. He retired in 1994. Harold loved young people and was a M.Y.F. worker in different churches. He coached little league baseball with the Optimist Club. Harold loved his church and the Lord Jesus Christ and worked in many areas serving on all boards from time to time and several camps for children and youth. His mother, father, three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death. Honorary pallbearers will be Phillip Becker, Richard Brooks, Bill Dillon, Dave Davidson, Larry Hollar, Dr. John Hundley, Joe La Roux, Dr. Jim Nickel, Vance Scott and Robert Snoddy. His survivors include his wife, Marjo of Midland; son, Timothy K. Rydell and wife Sheri and their daughters Katrina and Christinia; sons, David T. Rydell and wife Shannon and their children, Marleah, Amy, John David, Jake and Samuel of Midland and Harold E. Rydell Jr. of Ft. Worth; twin brother, Dr. Paul Rydell and wife Clara Mae of Ft. Worth; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to, M.A.R.C. of Midland, Midland Hospice and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.