Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Corsicana Daily News September 03, 2008 Robert Pillans Robert Pillans, 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday Sept. 1, 2008, with his family by his side at his residence in Winkler. He was born Oct. 3, 1921, at Cut and Shoot in Montgomery County to Benjamin Darden and Oletha Melton Pillans. His family relocated to Winkler when he was a baby. He completed his early schooling as St. Elmo and after graduating from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene on May 31, 1948, Robert worked for Shell Oil Company in various locations in Texas. In the 1950s, he brought his wife and children back to Winkler to become full-time farmer and rancher. He was a lifelong member of New Hope Baptist Church of Winkler where he served as the song director for many years. He was a member of the Winkler Masonic Lodge No. 826, as well as a member of Corsicana Eastern Star Chapter 118 for over 50 years. He served for over 30 years as a past director of the Freestone County Farm Bureau. He was the Freestone County Democratic chairman for many years. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at New Hope Baptist Church in Winkler with Brother Elton McCann officiating. Burial will follow at St. Elmo Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Preston Bonner, James Gary Pillans, Roger Pillans, Joey Satagaj, Phil Pillans, Clell Chandler Young, Kevin Fullerton, Glenn Gullatt and Johnny Minze. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Eric Minze, Adam Minze, Robby Pillans, Brian Pillans and Jay Fondren. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Loyd, Jim, Wayne and Willie D. Pillans; sisters Frances Crumbley, Sallie Satagaj, Gertrude Young and Lillian Fullerton; and granddaughter Laurie Ann Pillans Horn. He is survived by his wife, Vernon Hodge Pillans of Winkler; sons and daughters- in-law, Gary and Carolyn Pillans of Corsicana and Benny and Cheryl Pillans of Winkler; daughters and sons-in-law, Sherrell and Bud Minze of Streetman and Bobbie and David Fondren of Frisco; grandchildren, Cindy and Wayne Pair and Brian and Amy Pillans, all of Corsicana, Eric and Stephanie Minze of Fairfield, Adam and Linda Minze of Plattsmouth, Neb., Mindy and John Hunt of Bradford, Cherrilyn and Jay Robertson of Fairfield, Robby and Selene Pillans of Winkler, Jay and Anne Fondren of Robinson, Katie Fondren of Allen and Jobeth Fondren of Frisco; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brother, Jack Pillans of Corsicana; sisters-in-law, Frances Pillans of Streetman and Joyce Pillans of Winkler; brothers-in-law and their wives, James and Dorothy Hodge of Corsicana and Richard and Jeanie Hodge of Wooster, Ark.; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Memorials may be sent to New Hope Baptist Church, P.O. Box 215, Streetman, TX 75859. Arrangements by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. ======================================================= Fairfield Recorder Robert Pillans Funeral services will be held Thursday for Robert Pillans, 86, of Winkler who died Monday at his residence. Mr. Pillans was born in Cut n' Shoot on Oct. 3, 1921 to Benjamin Darden and Oletha Melton Pillans. His family moved to Winkler when he was an infant and he attended school in St. Elmo. Mr. Pillans graduated from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in 1948 and was employed for several years with Shell Oil Company. He and his wife and children moved to Winkler in the 1950's where he began working full time as a rancher. Mr. Pillans was a lifelong member of New Hope Baptist Church in Winkler where he served as song director for many years. He was also a member of the Winkler Masonic Lodge No. 826 and Corsicana Eastern Star, Chapter 118 for over 50 years. Mr. Pillans served for over 30 years as director of the Freestone County Farm Bureau and was a former Freestone County Democratic chairman. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at New Hope Baptist Church in Winkler with Elton McCann officiating. Interment will follow at St. Elmo Cemetery with Preston Boner, James Gary Pillans, Roger Pillans, Joey Satagaj, Phil Pillans, Clell Chandler Young, Kevin Fullerton, Glenn Gullatt and Johnny Minze. Honorary pallbearers include Mr. Pillans' grandsons Eric Minze, Adam Minze, Robby Pillans, Brian Pillans and Jay Fondren. Mr. Pillans is survived by his wife Vernon Hodge Pillans of Winkler; sons Gary Pillans and wife Carolyn of Corsicana and Benny Pillans and wife Cheryl of Winkler; daughters Sherrill Minze and husband Bud of Streetman and Bobbie Fondren and husband David of Frisco; grandchildren Cindy and Wayne Pair, Brian and Amy Pillans, all of Corsicana, Eric and Stephanie Minze of Fairfield, Adam and Linda Minze of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Mindy and John Hunt of Bradford, Cherrilyn and Jay Robertson of Fairfield, Robby and Selene Pillans of Winkler, Jay and Anne Fondren of Robinson, Katie Fondren of Allen and Jobeth Fondren of Frisco; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brother Jack Pillans of Corsicana; sisters-in-law Frances Pillans of Streetman and Joyce Pillans of Winkler; and brothers-in-law James Hodge and wife Dorothy of Corsicana and Richard Hodge and wife Jeanie of Wooster, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin Darden and Oletha Melton Pillans; brothers Lloyd, Jim, Wayne and Willie D. Pillans; sisters Frances Crumbley, Sallie Satagaj, Gertrude Young and Lillian Fullerton; and granddaughter Laurie Ann Pillans Horn. Arrangements were made by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home of Corsicana.