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 =========================================================================== Sunday, November 27, 2002 Permian Basin Obituaries Louis Odell Bird, Sr. ODESSA - Louis Odell "L.O." Bird, Sr. passed away Monday at his home after a valiant struggle against the cancer that took his life. He will be missed by his loving wife of 27 years, Alma Koonce Bird, his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, his sisters Lou Carter and Vermelle Sessions, and his nieces and nephews. L.O. was born Nov. 5, 1928, to parents Arthur Bird and Elzada Deere Bird. In his youth, he was a robust, athletic young man who briefly pursued a career in professional baseball. After a broken leg, he went to work in the oilfield industry. His career spanned 50 years, retiring in 1990 as Superintendent from El Paso Products Company. After retirement, L.O. was a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels. During his lifetime, he also served as Commissioner of the "Little League" Youth Baseball League and Chairman of the Republican Party of Ector County. His dedication to his work and his family was an inspiration to many. His first marriage, to Elnora Webster, took place in Snyder in 1951 and ended in divorce in 1972. Together they had five children. He is survived by his son, Louis Bird, Jr.; his three daughters, Sherry Bird Cain, Kathleen Bird Adler, and Dana Bird, and eight grandchildren; Matthew Bird, Adam Bird, Chris Cain, Reese Bruechner, Jordan Diamond, Lea Diamond, Madeleine Adler, and Joshua Adler. L.O. married Alma in Odessa in 1974. Together they have enjoyed family gatherings, community activities, and extensive travel. L.O. was the loving patriarch of a large family including Alma’s two sons, Ed Lewis and Ronnie Lewis, and three daughters, Lynn Lewis Hoskinson, Leigh Ann Lewis, and Lori Lewis, and six grandchildren, Jeremy Hoskinson, Jarrod Hoskinson, Dawn Johnson, Duskie Bennett, Robbie Lewis, and Dillon Kalinec, and great grandchild, Torie Johnson. L.O. and Alma were ardent Republicans and participated in many Republican Party activities and functions. They were members of the St. John’s Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry and the St. John’s School board. They would like to thank their pastor, Laura Deaderick, for her loving care and prayers and Odyssey Hospice nurse, Prinny Ham, home caregivers, Debra Jones and Gracie Leal, for their care, comfort and solace to L.O. Alma and the family wish to thank all who provided prayers, comfort and help. Services will be Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, at 3 p.m. at St John’s Episcopal Church officiating Rev. Laura Deaderick. Internment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens following the funeral service. Arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home. L.O. was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Charles Bird, son, Johnny Bird, and grandson, John Cain. May they all rest in peace in the solace of the presence of God. John R. ‘Bob’ Crabtree ODESSA - John R. "Bob" Crabtree passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at his home after a battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 31, 1926, in Sagerton. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. After graduating from Levelland High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in WWII, and served in the Philippines until his discharge in 1946. He enrolled in Texas Tech at Lubbock and graduated in 1949 with a degree in accounting. He married Vera Foerster on Sept. 9, 1949, in Posey. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Vera Crabtree of Odessa; daughter; Pamela Morphew and her husband Chris of Midland; grandchildren, Blake, Emilie, Katelyn and Amanda Morphew, all of Midland; brothers, Lynn Crabtree and wife Marcella of Canyon; Jack Crabtree and wife Evelyn of Van Couver, Wash.; brother-in-law, Joe M. Jernigan of Houston, sisters-in-law, Lillian Crabtree of Farmington, N.M., and JoAnn Foerster of Rogers, Ark.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He retired from Amoco Production Company in 1986 after 25 years of service. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, November 29, 2002, at Redeemer Lutheran Church with the Rev. A. Dean Kelm officiating. Interment will be held at 4 p.m. at Andrews Cemetery in Andrews. Pallbearers will be Reggie Crabtree, Mickey Crabtree, Greg Crabtree, Blake Morphew, Derek Kelm and Keith Groumann. Memorials may be give to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Odyssey Health Care Hospice Program. Services under the direction of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Ruby Verna Dickson CRANE - Ruby Verna Dickson, 86, of Crane died Sunday, November 24, 2002, in the Crane Memorial Hospital. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2002, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Baker officiating. Burial will follow in the Crane County Cemetery with services under the direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home. Mrs. Dickson was born May 22, 1916, in Lebo, Mo. She had lived in Crane since 1944. She was a housewife and had attended the First Baptist Church in Crane. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Dickson, on July 28, 1990, and a son, Clyde "Corkey" Dickson, on January 4, 1999; and two brothers, Avril Nelson and Billy Dean Nelson. She is survived by her son, Ronnie Dickson and his wife Vanda of Odessa; four grandchildren, Dannes and Greg Turner, and Dennis and Bonnie Dickson all of Cross Plains, Susan Dickson of Midland, Mich., and Chris and Trenna Dickson of Odessa; six great grandchildren, Joseph Turner, Jennifer Turner, Dusty Dickson, Justin Dickson, and Samantha Dickson, all of Cross Plains, and Sara Kelly Dickson of Midland, Mich.; daughter-in-law, Peggy Dickson of Crane, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials be made to Rural Home Hospice of Crane. Maria Cortez Galvan ODESSA - Maria Cortez Galvan, 75, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at the Hospice House. She was born May 26, 1927, in Terlingua. She married Luis Galvan on May 25, 1948, in Odessa. He preceded her in death Nov. 20, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Emiterio and Lazara Cortez and sister, Ricarda Soltero. Maria was the beloved Matriarch of the Cortez Clan, always helpful in whatever manner, whether it was giving advice or administering a reprimand. She was a great role model as a spouse, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or friend. All her siblings respected her and looked to her for guidance. Maria was an excellent homemaker who was devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren and siblings. She was a caregiver who often went beyond the call of duty. She loved to crochet, sew and garden. Her garden always bloomed with beautiful flowers and vibrant green foliage. Maria was a devout Christian lady, a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, who exuded a quiet and dignified grace about her. She was a devotee of the Blessed Mother and prayed many rosaries on a daily basis. She will be greatly missed by all whose life she gently touched. She is survived by her son, Roberto Galvan and wife Guadalupe of Odessa; daughters, Maria Luisa Sanchez and husband Jesus of Indio Calif., and Araceli Hernandez and husband Samuel of Odessa and Armida Galvan of Austin; brothers, Miguel Cortez and wife Petra, Locadio Cortez and wife Benita, Jimmy Cortez and wife Socorro, Johnny Cortez, Evaristo Cortez and companion Patsy, all of Odessa; sisters, Paula Marquez and husband Carlos, Angie Alvarado and husband Manuel, and Yolanda Hernandez and husband Bobby, all of Odessa; eight grandchildren, Ana Maria Mejia, Jesus Sanchez Jr., Roberto Sanchez, Elizabeth Sanchez, Israel Galvan, Luis Galvan, Adriana "Nana" Galvan and Ariel Hernandez; eight great-grandchildren, Josie Rivas, Miguel Huerta, Jessica Sanchez, Jesus Sanchez III, Nickolas Sanchez, Ruby Sanchez, Samuel Sanchez and Tony Sanchez. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Rev. David Herrera officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers: Israel Galvan, Luis Galvan, Adriana "Nana" Galvan, Jesus Sanchez Jr., Chris Marquez and Charlie Marquez. Honorary pallbearers: Greg Marquez, David Marquez and Ariel Hernandez. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Ouida Wright ANDREWS - Funeral services for Ouida Wright, 76, of Andrews will be 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, at Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews with the Rev. Bob Zap of Andrews officiating. Family will receive friends on Wendesday, Nov. 27, 2002, at McNett Funeral Home in Andrews from 6 to 8 p.m. Pallbearers will be Bob Smart, John Allbright, Sean McKinley, David McMullen, Ron Loetz, and Gary Millican. Honorary pallbearers will be the Exxon Annuitant Club of Andrews. Burial will be in the Andrews West Cemetery under the direction of McNett Funeral Home of Andrews. She died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at Permian General Hospital in Andrews. She was born December 28, 1925, in Rising Star. She married Wayne R. Wright on June 1, 1952, in Odessa. They moved to Andrews in 1955 from Odessa. She had been an account manager for Community General Hospital, secretary for Pool Company, and secretary for Grace Baptist Church, all of Andrews. She was a member of the Exxon Annuitant Club in Andrews, past member of the Andrews Desk & Derrick Club, and the Permian Basin Oncie Club. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews. Her husband, Wayne, preceded her in death on May 26, 1994. She is survived by her one daughter, Denise Baker of Odessa; two sons, Donny Wright of Odessa and Doug Wright of Gainesville; one sister, Leta Loetz of Davenport, Iowa; one brother, Kenneth Boyd of Amarillo; and four grandchildren, John Wayne Baker, Kendra Baker, and Summer Wright, all of Odessa, and Kaelyne Wright of Gainesville. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 811 Central Drive, Odessa, Texas 79761. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.