Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 2 May 1998 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; Saturday, May 2, 1998, 7:51 AM Amarillo Benjamin Gimp Raffkind Benjamin Gimp Raffkind, 25, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with Rabbi Martin Levy officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Raffkind was a longtime Amarillo resident. He graduated from Amarillo High School. Survivors include a daughter, Alexis Rene "Lexi" Raffkind of Amarillo; his parents, Myrna and Daniel Raffkind of Amarillo; two sisters, Heidi Jill van Zanten of Katonsville, Md., and Sara Lynn Raffkind of Los Angeles; a brother, Adam Gimp Raffkind of Boulder, Colo.; and his grandparents, Dorothy and Abe Brand of Tulsa. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be to a favorite charity. George King Lacey George King Lacey, 63, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services and entombment will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Llano Garden Mausoleum. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Lacey was born in Albuquerque and had been an Amarillo resident since 1994. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean conflict. He retired from Southwest Airlines as a ramp agent. Survivors include a son, Brandt Lacey of Manitou, Okla.; a brother, Walter Lacey of Sedalia, Mo.; a sister, Ellen Lacey of Sedalia; and five grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Elsewhere James M. Smith and Ellen S. Smith MATADOR - James M. "Chip" Smith, 50, and his wife, Ellen S. Smith, 46, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Joint services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Motley County High School Gymnasium with the Rev. Monte Wike, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Matador, and the Rev. Rickey Lawrence, pastor of Full Gospel Church of Roaring Springs, officiating. Joint burial will be in East Mound Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home of Matador. Mr. Smith was born in Odessa and moved to Matador in 1964. He graduated from Motley County High School in 1966 and from North Texas State University in 1975. He had been employed as a salesman for Lawson Products. Mr. Smith was a lay minister and member of First United Methodist Church. He was a member of Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, past master of Matador Lodge 824 and post commander of Plainview Commandery No. 53. He was a veteran of Vietnam, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. Mrs. Smith was born in Dallas and graduated from Lake Highland High School. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Texas Woman's University. She was employed in the obstetrical unit of Methodist Hospital in Lubbock. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and active in its outreach ministries. The Smiths were married in 1973 at Benjamin. Their survivors include two sons, Jeremy L. Smith of Clarendon and Scott J. Smith of Matador; and a daughter, Rachael L. Smith of Matador. Mr. Smith is survived by his parents, Joe and Billie Dean Smith of Matador; a brother, Pat Smith of Matador; and a sister, Seven Alexander of Matador. Mrs. Smith is survived by her parents, Bobby L. and Mary Ellen Short of Dallas; a sister, Linda Hodges of Dallas; three brothers, Stephen Short of Dallas, Mark Short of Austin and Philip Short of Denver. Memorials may be made to a trust fund set up for the surviving children at First State Bank, Matador, Texas, 79244. New Mexico Gordon Thomas Fields TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Gordon Thomas Fields, 75, of Logan, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Logan Cemetery with Ethel Souter, American Legion chaplain, officiating. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari. Mr. Fields was born in Clovis. He resided there until moving to Logan 10 years ago. A World War II veteran, he served in the Navy for two years. Mr. Fields was employed as a plumber. He was a member of the American Legion and Am Vets. Survivors include his wife, Mozell; a daughter, Donna Petree of Texico; two sons, Troy Fields of Gillette, Wyo., and Paul Fields of Logan; a brother, Charlie Fields of Clovis; two sisters, Ernestine Dunn of Clovis and Edith Dallas of Tatum; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from this morning until 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Virginia Torgeson CLOVIS, N.M. - Virginia Torgeson, 76, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Clyde Davis and the Rev. Lewis Pattison officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Torgeson was born in Lynchburg, Va. She married S.A. Torgeson in 1942 at Charlotte, N.C. She is survived by a son, Rusty Torgeson of Santa Fe. Oklahoma Leon Edward Graff BEAVER, Okla. - Leon Edward "Eddie" Graff, 29, died Sunday, April 26, in Oklahoma City. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m today in Pioneer Cemetery with DeLann Miller officiating. Arrangements are by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mr. Graff was born in Miami, Okla. He graduated from Beaver High School in 1987 and attended college for a year. He was employed as a salesman and attended the Assembly of God Church in Beaver. Survivors include his mother, Betty Jo Graff of Beaver; and a sister, Melissa Bryer of Forgan. Milton Homer Robinson BOISE CITY, Okla. - Milton Homer "Bunk" Robinson, 84, died Wednesday, April 29, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with Derek Cox officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mr. Robinson was born in Bronco, Texas. He moved to Dalhart, Texas, when he was 9 and attended elementary school there. He attended high school in Boise City, then worked in Kenton. Mr. Robinson worked for Perkins Prothro and then for Northrop Aircraft in California for five years. He returned to Dalhart before moving to Boise City. He retired from Lewis Brooks and was a farmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Mildred Graham in 1936. He was preceded in death by a son, Don Robinson. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry Milton Robinson of New Jersey; a daughter, Patricia Fishburn of Purcell; a sister, Flora James of Burlington, Colo.; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church Memorial Fund or a favorite charity and may be left in care of Cimarron Mortuary. Rita Black LOGAN, Okla. - Rita Black, 81, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Midway Country Church with the Rev. Neil Ragan and the Rev. Bob Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Kiowa Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mrs. Black was born in Kremlin and grew up in Beaver County. She attended the Victory Country School then high school in Beaver and Laverne. She moved to Goodman, Mo., where she was employed in various jobs including at a canning factory. During World War II, she was employed in the restaurant at Camp Crowder. With her husband, Mrs. Black was involved in farming and ranching in Beaver. She retired after 20 years as postmaster of Logan in 1984. She was a member of the Midway Country Church. She married Harlen Black in 1950 at Laverne. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Ann Ray. Survivors include her husband; five sons, Tim Ray of Shamrock, Texas, Joe Ray of Amarillo, Denny Black of Claremore, Danny Black of Livingston, Mont., and Ronnie Black of Oroville, Calif.; a brother, Roy Ferguson of Springfield, Mo.; two sisters, Sue Ferguson of Granby, Mo., and Jean Black of Joplin, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Midway Country Church. Area Barbara Jean Malone CHILDRESS - Barbara Jean Malone, 50, of Wichita Falls, formerly of Childress, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russell Swinney, pastor of Christ Gospel Church of Wichita Falls, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Mrs. Malone was born in Sacramento, Calif. She was a former resident of Childress. She was an LVN for 22 years. She was a member of Christ Gospel Church of Wichita Falls. Survivors include her husband, Danny Prado of Wichita Falls; two daughters, Christie Hoover of Amarillo and Sue E. Martin of Iowa Park; and two granddaughters. Minnie Pauline Orr PAMPA - Minnie Pauline Orr, 74, formerly of Pampa, died Monday, April 27, 1998, in Kingsford, Mich. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Larry Brown, family life minister of Mary Ellen & Harvest Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Orr was born in Lawton, Okla. She was a longtime Pampa resident before recently moving to Michigan. She was a retired waitress. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Orr, in 1987; by a son, Raymond Orr, in 1983; and by a daughter, Rosetta Lowe, in 1996. Survivors include three sons, Billy Orr of Dallas, Curtis Orr of Iron Mountain, Mich., and Kyle Orr of Florida; a daughter, Gloria Jean Blue of Odessa; two brothers, George Hitt and Bob Hitt, both of Lawton; two sisters, Pearl Dobson and Lela Mae Lawson, both of Lawton; 22 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9 to 11 a.m. today. Ruth Spencer DUMAS - Ruth Spencer, 63, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Life Tabernacle Church with Mark Wallis, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Spencer was born in Beebe, Ark., and had been a Dumas resident since 1939. She was a homemaker and a member of Life Tabernacle Church. She was a bookkeeper and was co-owner and operator of Spencer Vacuum from 1970 to 1995. She married Glenn Spencer in 1955 at Dumas. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Linda D. Spencer-Brothers of Amarillo and Jan Lowry of Dumas; two sons, Hiram Spencer of Amarillo and Reece Spencer of Dumas; two sisters, Nada MaCutchan and Margie Collier, both of Dumas; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 602 S. Meredith. They request memorials be to Meals on Wheels, 810 S. Dumas Ave., Room 209, Dumas, Texas; or Gideons International, P.O. Box 1702, Dumas, Texas. Pauline Pantoja PLAINVIEW - Pauline Pantoja, 74, died Thursday, April 30, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Ben Kasteel officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Pantoja was born in Pandora and grew up in Stockdale. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She married Manuel Pantoja in 1950 at Union Valley. Survivors include her husband; six daughters, Mary Trigo of Nixon, Guadalupe Zertuche of Stockdale, Manuela Pena of Floresville, Margaret Arrolia of Breckenridge, and Pauline Soto and Rosalinda Perez, both of Plainview; two sons, Pedro M. Pantoja and Victor Pantoja, both of Plainview; two sisters, Manuela Montalbo and Maria Pena, both of Stockdale; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Kevin Dye DALHART - Kevin Dye, 36, of Lakewood, Colo., died Monday, April 18, 1998. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Monday in Brentwood United Methodist Church in Denver with the Rev. Don Sperber, pastor, officiating. Graveside interment will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Dalhart with the Rev. Philip Shull of First United Methodist Church of Liberal, Kan., officiating. Local arrangements by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Dye was born in Grants, N.M. He attended the A.J. Woods School in Casper, Wyo., then Wallace Village for Children in Broomfield, Colo. He was involved in the Jefferson County Community Services. When Mr. Dye was 9, he received international media coverage when he was lost for 11 days on Casper Mountain in Wyoming. His story was written by Sandra Michel and published in Redbook magazine. Mr. Dye was active in Special Olympics for more than 25 years in both Colorado and Wyoming. Earlier this year, he won second place in bowling at the State Special Olympics. For more than 20 years, he participated in Saturday Club, a program for the disabled. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Anna Carolyn and the Rev. Paul H. Hood of Liberal; his stepmother, Wanda Dye of Dalhart; two sisters, Angelique Love Spinner of Denver and Charlotte Anne Dye of Dallas; a brother, Phillip B. Dye Jr. of Houston; his grandparents, Carolyn Pendleton La Due of Liberal and J.C. Dye of Dalhart; and a cousin, Shelly Dye Clark. The family request memorials be to Special Olympics, the Easter Seal Foundation, the Brentwood Memorial Garden Fund or the Saturday Club of the Denver Board of Disabilities. Deward N. Gregory Sr. PADUCAH - Deward N. Gregory Sr., 81, died Friday, May 1, 1998. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church with Sam Crosby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home of Paducah. Mr. Gregory was born in Greenville and moved to Cottle County in 1928. He was a veteran of World War II. He was a farmer and member of First Baptist Church. He married Iva Lee Havins in 1944 at Hollis, Okla. Survivors include his wife; three sons, D.N. Gregory Jr. of Paducah, Roger Gregory of Borger and Wesley B. Gregory of Littlefield; a brother, Colbert Gregory of Paducah; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Margaret Bowdle BOOKER - Margaret Bowdle, 76, died Friday, May 1, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Booker Friends Church with the Rev. Francis Ross officiating. Burial will be in Heart Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service. Mrs. Bowdle was born in Rose Hill, Kan., where she attended school. She graduated from Friends Academy in Haviland, Kan. She attended Friends Bible College and graduated from Fort Hayes State College. She taught school near Beaver, Kan., before becoming a cashier at Farmers State Bank. Mrs. Bowdle was a longtime resident of the area and moved into Booker in 1980. She retired in 1986 from Booker Equity. She was a member of the Booker Friends Church where she served as chairman of the Spiritual Life Committee, the WMU, and taught Sunday School for many years. She married George B. Bowdle in 1952 at Beaver, Kan. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jan. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Renee Lee of Booker; a brother, Herbert Pitts of Great Bend, Kan.; and two granddaughters. The family requests memorials be to Booker Friends Church or to the Gideons International.