Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 Dec 1997 Copyright, http://www.amarillonet.com/ ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Thanks to the Amarillo Newspapers for allowing us to place their online obits in the USGenWeb Archives ==================================================================== Last updated; Friday, December 19, 1997, 6:20 AM Amarillo Joyce Dow Joyce Dow, 63, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Warford-Walker Mortuary Chapel of Roses, 509 N. Hughes St., with the Rev. Joe Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Dow was born in Anadarko, Okla., and attended public schools. She worked in the the nursing profession and in sales. She was a former Amarillo resident and had lived in Oklahoma City for the past 18 years. Survivors include her husband, Sammy Dow; a daughter, Barbara Harvey of Oklahoma City; a stepdaughter, Gloria Kelly of Amarillo; two sons, David Harvey and Donald Harvey, both of Oklahoma City; a stepson, Glenn Dow; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family will be at 300 Ponderosa Lane. Virginia Mae Kouba Virginia Mae Kouba, 80, of 311 S. Alabama St., died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. William Fitzgerald of San Jacinto United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Kouba was born in London, Ontario, Canada. She was a salesperson for White and Kirk and Sakowitz for many years. She was a volunteer at High Plains Baptist Hospital for more than 20 years. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church. She married Leo Kouba in 1948 at Canyon. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Phyllis Hooker of Westlake Village, Calif., Diane David of Hobbs, N.M., and Eileen Higgins of Hereford; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or a favorite charity. Cortez Herpin Cortez Herpin, 77, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum with Chris Kutin, chaplain, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Herpin was born in Hamby. She moved to Amarillo in 1990 from New Orleans. She was an executive secretary. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, William B. Herpin Sr., in 1989. Survivors include two sons, Capt. William B. Herpin Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Henry G. Herpin of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.; and five grandchildren. Mae Holt Bitting Mae Holt Bitting, 93, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Private graveside services will be Saturday in Llano Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in West Amarillo Christian Church with Dr. Rick Mathis of the church and the Rev. Jack Cox officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Ms. Bitting was born in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School. She moved to Amarillo in 1926. She was a bookkeeper for the Texas Employment Commission before retiring in 1967. She was a member of West Amarillo Christian Church. She was preceded in death by a son, Bill Bitting, in 1944. Survivors include a son, John D. Bitting of Amarillo; a daughter, Betty Duniven of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to West Amarillo Christian Church. Debra Lynn Groke Debra Lynn Groke, 41, of Dallas, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo with the Rev. Allen Norris officiating. Arrangements were by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave., in Amarillo. Ms. Groke was born in Detroit. Survivors include a daughter, Robin Hughey of Arkansas; her mother, Rose Seamen of Dallas; her father, Alfred Groke of Livingston; four sisters, Mary Alice Arnett of Louisiana, Joann Seaman of Dallas, and Linda Groke and Kim Groke, both of Tennessee; and three brothers, Miles Seaman of Dallas, Steve Seaman of Pittsburg, Texas, and Joey Groke of Tennessee. Elsewhere Frieda R. Kunkel CONROE - Frieda R. Kunkel, 96, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mark Lutheran Church. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in St. Michael Lutheran Church Cemetery at Winchester. Arrangements are by Metcalf Funeral Home. Mrs. Kunkel was born in Fayette County. She married Walter Kunkel in 1922 at Winchester. They moved to Parmer County from Olney in the late 1920s. She was preceded in death by a son, Walter Kunkel Jr., in 1937; and by her husband in 1938. Mrs. Kunkel was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and a lifetime member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Mrs. Kunkel lived in Lubbock for 25 years after the death of her husband. She was a house mother to many students at Texas Tech University. She later entered the field of nursing and was active until retiring in 1982. Survivors include a son, Calvin M. Kunkel of Amarillo; a daughter, Anieta Foerster of Conroe; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Trinity Lutheran Church in Amarillo or St. Mark Lutheran Church at Conroe. New Mexico Marvin Dolle PORTALES, N.M. - Marvin Dolle, 66, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in St. Helen Catholic Church by the Rev. Anthony Martinez. Burial will be at 3 p.m. (CST) today in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Littlefield, Texas. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. Mr. Dolle was born in Burlington, Texas, and grew up in west Texas and eastern New Mexico. He moved to a farm in the Bethel community west of Portales in 1953. He was active in the St. Helen Catholic community. Survivors include four sisters, Edna Brenek of Savoy, Texas, Vera Tisdale of Hobbs, Kathleen Eady of Lubbock, Texas, and Euealle Webb of Great Bend, Kan. The family requests memorials be to St. Helen Catholic Church. Oklahoma Julianna G. Otts Keeble HOBART, Okla. - Julianna G. "Judy" Otts Keeble, 57, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Calvary Assembly of God at Lawton with the Rev. Roger Reston, pastor of Calvary Life Assembly of God, and the Rev. C.A. McBride, pastor of First Assembly of God at Coppell, Texas, officiating. Arrangements are by Lawton-Ritter-Gray Funeral Home. Mrs. Keeble was born in Woodward and attended schools in Gage. She worked for Braniff Airlines for about 25 years. She worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 12 years. She married Ken Keeble in 1989 at Kaufman, Texas. They moved to Hobart in 1996. She attended Calvary Life Assembly of God. Survivors include her husband; her mother, Carrie Girton of Gage; two daughters, Tracy Otts of Irving, Texas, and Lori Bailey of Lawton; two brothers, Gary Girton and Larry Girton, both of Gage; a sister, Jane Hutchins of La Junta, Colo.; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Calvary Life Assembly of God of Hobart. Area Gladys Brons BORGER - Gladys Brons, 76, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. James C. Loper, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home. Mrs. Brons was born in Atlantic, Iowa. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. She was a resident of Borger. Survivors include her husband, Glenn; a son, David Brons of Borger; two sisters, Violet Bowes of Griswold, Iowa, and Ruth Hansen of Crescent, Iowa; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 103 Kiekbusch. Telisa Diane Reynolds Koetting LELIA LAKE - Telisa Diane Reynolds Koetting, 34, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, in Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church at Clarendon with Dr. James Bell, pastor, and the Rev. Sherman Eastland of Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Groom Cemetery at Groom by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Koetting was born in Amarillo. She graduated from Groom High School in 1982 and attended Clarendon College. She was a homemaker and had worked at Harlan's Flowers in Clarendon and Koetting Automotive of Lelia Lake. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Clarendon. She married Neil Koetting in 1983 at Groom. Survivors include her husband; a son, Seth Koetting of the home; a daughter, Shandy Koetting of the home; her mother and stepfather, Pat and Bob Pool of Groom; a brother, Dusty Reynolds of Lubbock; three stepbrothers, Gary Pool of Nashville, Tenn., and Larry Pool and Bobby Pool, both of Groom; and grandparents, John Coe of Amarillo, Gertrude Coe of Groom and Mildred Reynolds also of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church. Grace Maude Geuther PANHANDLE - Grace Maude Geuther, 94, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in First Christian Church with the Rev. Doug Harvey, the Rev. Gary Wood and the Rev. Ronnie Pingelton officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Geuther was born in Buffalo, Mo., and had been a Panhandle resident since 1939. She was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church. She married Clem Carl Geuther in 1920 at Pampa. He died in 1968. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Jo Pingelton, in 1981. Survivors include two daughters, Emma Jean Geuther and Virginia Farrell, both of Panhandle; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. June Carol Myatt Kelp PAMPA - June Carol Myatt Kelp, 67, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Memorial graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in White Deer Cemetery at White Deer with the Rev. Lonny Robbins, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Kelp was born in Vernon. She was a 1947 graduate of Pampa High School. She was the founder of K&K Inc. in White Deer and had been co-owner for the past 33 years. She was Methodist. She married Frank Kelp in 1949 at Pampa. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Kent Kelp of White Deer and Kavin Kelp of Austin; a daughter, Kathy Dowd of White Deer; her father, Cecil Myatt of Canadian; four sisters, Jenny Ralls and Norma Healy, both of Universal City, and Mary Myatt and Betty Bohlander, both of Pampa; a brother, Ed Myatt of Pampa; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the White Deer Cemetery Association or the White Deer EMS. The body will not be available for viewing. Marvin Elwood Prentice CHILDRESS - Marvin Elwood Prentice, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Childress Cemetery with the Rev. Alan Lee Egerton, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, and Don McFarland, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Prentice was born in Childress County. He farmed in Littlefield before moving to Childress in 1977. He was a veteran of World War II. Survivors include a sister, Pearl Jamieson of Guymon, Okla.; a brother, Monroe Prentice of Childress; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren. Jack R. Lisman PAMPA - Jack R. Lisman, 73, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Lyndon Glaesman, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery with graveside rites by McLean Masonic Lodge No. 889 AF&AM. Mr. Lisman was born in Sherman. He graduated from McLean High School. He moved to Pampa in 1980. He was an operator for Gulf Oil Co. for 39 years before retiring. Mr. Lisman married Mary Lee Boyd in 1995 at McLean. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and McLean Masonic Lodge No. 889 AF&AM. He also was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Kay Mireles, in 1996. Survivors include his wife; one son, Ross Lisman of Westerville, Ohio; two brothers, Philip Lisman of Borger and Maxie Lisman of Panhandle; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79066-2795. Ola Blanche Williams CLARENDON - Ola Blanche Williams, 91, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. James Bell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. Mrs. Williams was born in Copeville, Collin County, in 1906 and moved to Donley County that same year. She was a checker and clerk at Junior's Food Market in Clarendon for many years before retiring. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Robert Alexander "Bob" Williams in 1923 at Clarendon. He died in May. Survivors include a daughter, Jean Merchant of Amarillo; two sisters, Wilma Spier and Edna Holsenbeck, both of Clarendon; a brother, Gene Putman of Claude; three grandsons; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Carol Gene Baldridge PLAINVIEW - Carol Gene Baldridge, 67, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in College Heights Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Baldridge was born in Wildcat, Okla. He grew up in Whiteface and graduated from Whiteface High School. He joined the Army in 1952. After being discharged, he moved to Morton. He married Carolyn Walker in 1952 at Portales, N.M. He lived in Sudan from 1963 to 1967, when he moved back to Morton. He moved to Ralls in 1970 and to Plainview in 1971. He began working for Harry Igo. In 1972, he began working for Tri State Chemical. Mr. Baldridge was a member of College Heights Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Cinthia L. Shaddix of Plainview and Vicki G. Horan of Flower Mound; a son, Morris G. Baldridge of Coppell; two brothers, William Baldridge of Levelland and Bob Baldridge of Beaver, Okla.; a sister, LaDeana Wilhite of Claremore, Okla.; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the College Heights Baptist Church growth fund. Betty Rhinehart MULESHOE - Betty Rhinehart, 72, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Muleshoe Cemetery with Charles Harvey of Muleshoe officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Rhinehart moved from Muncie, Ind., to Muleshoe in 1980. She was a homemaker. She married Robert Rhinehart in 1945 at Hartford City, Ind. Survivors include her husband; a son, Michael Rhinehart of Matthews, Ind.; three daughters, Nelita Casterson of Pasadena, Calif., Bobbie Jo Sells of Matthews and Renee Coats of Muncie; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Nellie Marie Bybee HIGGINS - Nellie Marie Bybee, 90, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Gordon Lawson, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Higgins Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mrs. Bybee was born in Stroud, Okla. She moved to Ellis County, where she graduated from Valley View School. She married Lucien Bybee in 1928 at Lipscomb County. He died in 1980. Mrs. Bybee was a member of the Church of Christ and several quilting clubs. She was also a Pink Lady at Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck, Okla., and a volunteer at Hemphill County Hospital in Canadian. She was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, Harvey Bybee of Higgins; three sisters, Iva Henderson and Mabel Goodner of Beaver, Okla., and Pauline Holland of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Tipton Home or a favorite charity.