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 =========================================================================== Friday September 27, 2002 William Leon ‘Jack’ Johnston ODESSA - Services for William Leon "Jack" Johnston will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel in Odessa. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. G.A. McGee officiating. Jack died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, in Allen, Texas. He would have celebrated his 85th birthday on Sept. 30, 2002. Jack was born on Sept. 30, 1917, in Newcastle, Texas. He married LaClara Bell "Tooter" Spoon, November 16, 1940. They resided in Odessa for 58 years. He was a veteran of World War II. He retired from Gulf Oil after 42 1/2 years of tenure. Jack and LaClara enjoyed many years of traveling with the Oil City Sam's Travel Club. They were members of Belmont Baptist Church of Odessa until moving to Allen in 1999. Both became very active members of the Senior department of First Baptist Allen. Jack is survived by his wife, LaClara; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Tana and Bert Frost of Odessa and Vickie and Jimmy Moore of Allen; three grand-sons, C. Bert Frost and wife Debbie of Odessa, Jay Moore of Plano, Texas, and Zach Moore of Macomb, Ill.; one granddaughter, Wende Ramos and husband Martin of Odessa; five great-grandchildren, Ashlie and Meaghin Frost, Benjamin, Dean and Rachel Ramos, all of Odessa; sisters, Pauline Loader of Houston and Rudean Gardner of Burnet; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, U.R. and Jessie Johnston; two sisters, Bula Webb and Ida Mae Clark; and brother, R.J. Johnston. The family will be receiving friends at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home today from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial Contributions may be made to the "We Care Ministry" of First Baptist Church, 201 E. McDermott, Allen, TX, 75002. "We Care" is a ministry to the needy. Virginia Martinez ODESSA - God saw she was getting tired and the cure was not to be. So He put his arms around her and whispered, "Come with me." With tearful hearts, we watched her fade away. Although we loved her dearly, we could not make her stay. A golden heart stopped beating, ard working hands to rest, He broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Virginia Martinez, 71, a homemaker died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, at Reeves County Hospital in Pecos, Texas. Mrs. Martinez was born May 21, 1931 in Saragosa, Texas, to Mr. and Mrs. Pilar and Catalina Contreras. On Nov. 19, 1949, she married Tomas C. Martinez in Balmorhea, Texas. They spent 53 wonderful years together. Experiencing life together, first as a couple, then as parents of five children, grandparenting and great-grandparenting. Mrs. Martinez lived a good life, and was happy doing the things she loved to do: raising her family, cooking and quilting. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her father, Pilar Contreras; and her mother, Catilina N. Contreras. She is survived by her husband, Tomas C. Martinez Sr. of Saragosa, Texas; sons, Tomas C. Martinez Jr. and wife Dianne of Rio Rico, Ariz, Rudy C. Martinez and wife Irma of Pecos, Texas and Isaac (Saki) C. Martinez and wife Donna of Pecos; daughter Florinda Gallego and husband Freddy of Pecos and Elodia Garcia and husband Armando (Shaggy) of Saragosa; brother, Felipe Pallan and wife Susana of Odessa; sisters, Maria Alvarado and husband Valente of Tucson, Ariz., Monserato (Monse) Guevara and husband Fito of Saragosa and Natividad (Tivi) Ramirez and husband Francisco (Pancho) of Saragosa; grandchildren, Tamye M. Espinosa and husband Eric of Rio Roco, Ariz., Crissy Martinez of San Morcos, Farrah Martinez of San Marcos, Lorrina Martinez of Midland, Tomas (T.J.) Martinez III of Rio Rico, Ariz., Joe Ronn Martinez of Rio Rico, Ariz., Randy Martinez of Fort Worth, Jeremy (Jay) Martinez and wife Brenda of Midland, Adrion Martinez and wife Elizabeth of Siloam Springs, Ariz., Jennifer Martinez of Pecos, John Gallego of Lubbock, Steven Gallego of Odessa, Beverly Gallego of San Antonio, Christopher Martinez and wife Elvira of Odessa, Johanna Martinez of Pecos, Michelle Martinez of Pecos, Amy Garcia of Saragosa and Angelina (Angie) Garcia of Saragosa; great-grandchildren, Cayden Martinez of Midland, Isabelle Martinez of Siloam Springs, Ark., and Christian Martinez of Midland. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Saragosa, Texas, with Fr. Ben Flores officiating. Interment will follow at the Saragosa Cemeter. Visitation will be held today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Ennis Shedwin Jr. ODESSA - On April 18, 1934, the 9th child of 11 children was born to the Rev. and Mrs. Ennis Shedwin in Lufkin, TX. They named him Ennis, Jr. Later, the Shedwin family lived in Trinity and Galveston, TX. Ennis Jr. gave his life to Christ at an early age. He was active in sports; he was the quarterback of his team and he graduated valedictorian of the Trinity Colored High School Class of 1951. Believing that Negro children could and should flee from the sawmill mentality of the Piney Woods of East Texas and the sharecropper’s economy of the agrarian South, Ennis Jr. opted for the battlefields of Japan and Korea, with faith that he would return home and enroll in college on the GI Bill for upward mobility. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1955. He enrolled at Texas Southern University in 1958 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and physical education in 1962. On Aug. 27, 1958, he was united in Holy matrimony with Willie Mae Perry in Galveston, Texas. That union was blessed with two children, Rolanda and Kathy. After having taught at Central High School in Galveston, he came to Odessa in 1964 and continued his teaching and coaching career in the Ector County ISD at Blackshear High School under the principalship of Mr. Edward K. Downing and later under the principalship of Mr. Virgil Hendley. He also taught at Nimitz. He retired after having taught 29 years in the Odessa public school system. On Oct. 24, 1969, in Houston, Texas, he was united in Holy matrimony with Jo Berne Brown, a native of Tennessee Colony, Texas, and a second year history teacher at Permian High School. To their union, one son, Ennis III, was born. He united with St. Matthew Baptist Church in 1971 under the pastorage of the Rev. Rufus McClain. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow in geology at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas in Austin during the summers of 1969 through 1975. He earned his Master of Education degree from Sul Ross University and his mid-management certification from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He was affiliated with the Iota Rho Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the American Legion Post No. 80. He served as a commander of VFW Post No. 6717 and he was a Worshipful Master of Mount Rose Lodge No. 194. During his failing health, he waited with humility and enthusiasm for Pastor A.C. Slack’s home visitation ministry of prayer and fellowship on Monday mornings. Likewise, he experienced moving moments from the Bible study, prayers, and offerings of the St. Matthew Baptist Church Brotherhood home visitation ministry. Floral and frequent monetary gifts to him from the St. Matthew Church family always brought tears of appreciation. He was preceded in death by this brother, Ernest Shedwin (1920-1958); his father, the Rev. Ennis Shedwin Sr. (1898-1960); his brother, Ivory Shedwin (1916-1964); his mother, Mrs. Alice Medlock-Shedwin (1898-1982); his sister, Margaret Martin (1936-1996); his brother, Jim Henry Smith (1915-1999); his sister, Venneta Cooper (1917-2001); and his sister, Claireaster Shedwin (1918-2002). Those who survive to cherish his memory include his wife of 33 years, Jo Berne Shedwin; his five adult children (who are listed according to birth order): Clarence Shedwin and his wife, Dorothy; Janice Smith; Rolander and her husband, Jacques Tanner; Kathy Shedwin and Ennis Shedwin III. His descendants also include five grandchildren (listed according to birth order): Keisha Shaw, Lorenzo Shaw, Jr., Kevorick Shedwin, Walter Tyler Shedwin, and Christian Bryce Shedwin. His third generation survivors include two great grandchildren: Tyrieck Shaw and Kameron Shaw. His surviving siblings are one brother, Eddie Frank Shedwin and his wife, Faye, Bremeton, Wash.; Juanita Felder, Houston, Texas; Albertine Shedwin and Mary Ann Hobbs, Trinity, Texas. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Others who cherish his memory are his brothers-in-law; Harold Brown and his wife, Sharon; and Benny Brown and his wife, Pamela. Mr. Shedwin passed away Sept. 20, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. Family visitation is scheduled for tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, 1516 E. Murphy, with Pastor A.C. Slack officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Donnie J. Brown ODESSA - We lost Donnie J. Brown on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, after a long illness. He was born June 8, 1956, in Odessa, Texas, to Tom and Jean Brown. He married Pat Chaney on Aug. 17, 1984, in Odessa. Donnie was a lifelong resident of Odessa. He graduated from Odessa High School. He owned and operated Qualitex Ind. X-Ray Inc. His greatest joys were bowling and baseball. He spent many hours building baseball fields at North Ector Little League and had served on the board of the Odessa Youth Boys’ Association. He loved spending time with his three boys whatever sport they were involved in. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas R. Brown; and a sister, Neva Gail Watkins. He is survived by his wife Pat Brown of Odessa; three sons, Justin York and wife Alison of Midland, Dustin York and Brandon Brown, both of Odessa; mother, Jean Brown of Odessa; and brothers, Tommy Brown, Steve Brown and Dave Brown, all of Odessa. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at the Frank W. Wilson Chapel with the Rev. Randy Unruh officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice House of Odessa. Marlin "Edge" Edgington YANCEY - Marlin "Edge" Edgington, 62, a retired truck driver met the angels, Sept. 12, 2002, after battling cancer. He was born Aug. 1, 1940, in Manhattan, Kan. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, having lost his right leg above the knee in 1961. The wonderful thing about Edge was that he never considered himself handicapped. Among his accomplishments, He drove over one million miles in his 1984 two-toned green Peterbilt with no loss of cargo or an accident. His handle was DOUBLE EDGE. He also danced, swam, rode horses and drove his tractor on his ranch. He is survived by his wife, Pearlann Pae Edgington; brother, John Edgington of Champaign, Ill.; sisters, Sharon Diffenderfer of Anthony, N.M., and Vanessa Williams of Fenton, Mich; parents, Owen and Dorothy Edgington of Flat Rock, Ill.; sons, Leslie Robert Edgington of Leakey, Texas, and Sean Bingham of Olathe, Colo.; daughters, Lynn Bingham, of Camp Wood, Bonita Arriola, of Falfurrias and Julie Domgard of Odessa, Texas; grandchildren, Shane Bingham, Daniel Bingham, Tanya Bingham, Jonathon Edgington, Dalene Edgington, Jenny Chavez, Valerie Chavez, Maria Arriola, Cristina Arriola, Dakota Bingham and Taylor Bingham; and great-grandson, Gentry Bingham. He will also be missed by his constant companion, "Boney." A memorial service will be held at the ranch in Yancey for friends and family at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002. Arrangements entrusted to Puente & Sons Funeral Chapels, 2910 Ave. E, Hondo, Texas, 78204. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.