Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 20 April 1999 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; Tuesday, April 20, 1999, 6:15 AM Area John Louis Wieck UMBARGER - John Louis Wieck, 78, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel in Canyon. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Umbarger with the Rev. Robert Busch, the Rev. Scott Raef and Willie Artho, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Mr. Wieck was born in Umbarger and was a lifelong resident. During World War II, he served in the infantry as a medic in the European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign. He was a staff sergeant and received the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the EuropeanAfrican-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Wieck returned to Umbarger and farming. He served on the Farm Bureau Board, ASC Board and the Federal Land Bank Board. In the Knights of Columbus, he served as Grand Knight and was a member in the third degree and navigator in the fourth degree. Mr. Wieck was treasurer on the church council and on the board of directors of First State Bank of Happy, Canyon and Amarillo. He served on the district water board for the High Plains Water District. He married Edna Artho in 1942 at Umbarger. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Larry Wieck of Dalhart and Stan Wieck, Mike Wieck and Chris Wieck, all of Umbarger; four daughters, Linda Hesse of Levelland, Marilyn Parker and Donna Brorman, both of Dalhart, and Carolyn Kirkland of Lamesa; 33 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Catholic Family Service, 200 S. Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79101. Erma Faye Kersten WELLINGTON - Erma Faye Kersten, 90, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Roy Barringer, minister, and Kerry Hookstra, minister of First Christian Church of Erick, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. Kersten was born in Pilot Point and moved to Collinsworth County in 1916 with her family. A longtime Wellington resident, she attended schools in Buck Creek, Marella and Wellington. She was a homemaker and worked in the Green Thumb program. Mrs. Kersten was a member of the Business and Professional Women and the Home Demonstration clubs. She was a member of First Christian Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She married Emil B. Kersten in 1924 at Wellington. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1979 and by a son, James Calvin Kersten, in 1993. Survivors include a son, Ronald Kersten of Wellington; a sister, Elise Wilson of Wellington; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church, Wellington Cemetery Association or the Collingsworth County Museum. Petronilla Birkenfeld TULIA - Petronilla Birkenfeld, 82, of Nazareth, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in the CCD Building of Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. Jerry Stein, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Miss Birkenfeld was born and raised in Nazareth. After graduating from Nazareth High School, she attended nursing school in Jonesboro, Ark. In 1972, she retired from the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines and returned to Nazareth. Miss Birkenfeld was a member of the Order of Catholic Daughters, Order of Martha (quilters), Nazareth Museum, Nazareth Senior Citizens and the Holy Family Catholic Church. Viewing will be until 1:30 p.m. today at Wallace Funeral Home in Tulia and from 2 p.m. today until service time Wednesday at the CCD Building. The family suggests memorials be to the Nazareth Museum. Odie Lee Rohde FRIONA - Odie Lee Rohde, 74, of Las Vegas and formerly of Friona, died Saturday, April 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Friona with the Rev. Charles Broadhurst and the Rev. Wade Messer officiating. Burial will be in Friona Memorial Park by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home of Hereford. Mrs. Rohde was born in Wheeler County. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Friona and owned Claborn Floral for several years before her retirement. She had lived in Las Vegas for several years. She married Walt Rohde in 1987 at Reno, Nev. She was preceded in death by a son, Jackie Claborn. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Dr. Jobey Claborn of Kaufman and Johnny Claborn of Dallas; a brother, Bill West of Hereford; a sister, Elsie Lloyd of Hereford; and three grandchildren. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church. Wilton R. Bodkin OLTON - Wilton R. Bodkin, 82, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Olton Cemetery with the Rev. Sam Estes of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lubbock officiating. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home of Olton. Mr. Bodkin was born in Maud, Okla., and moved to Olton in 1928. He was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lubbock where he was a longtime elder. He also was a member of Olton Masonic Lodge No. 1257 and had dual memberships in Lubbock and El Paso Scottish Rite. He was a farmer. He married Hester Mae Burns in 1937 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Wayne Bodkin of Weatherford, Royce Bodkin of Plano, Mike Bodkin of Houston and Pat Bodkin of Olton; a brother, Leroy Bodkin of Hereford; a sister, Elsie Petty of Memphis; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Family Hospice, 4418 Olton Rd., Plainview, TX 79073; or Olton Volunteer Ambulance Association. Francisco Alcantar SUNRAY - Francisco "Frank" Alcantar, 63, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Services are planned for a later date. Burial will be in Tomatlan Municipal Cemetery in Mexico with local arrangements by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Alcantar was born in Tomatlan and had lived in Sunray since 1975. He was a longtime resident of Kress, a farmer and member of Christ the King Catholic Church. He married Obdulia Gonzalez in 1965 at Guadalajara, Mexico. Survivors include his wife and a son, Cesar Alcantar, of Amarillo. The family will be at 505 Avenue J. Roxie Turner PLAINVIEW - Roxie Turner, 96, of Dimmitt, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Riley Turner of Lubbock officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. today in Flomot Cemetery. Ms. Turner was born and raised in Flomot where she graduated from high school. In 1944, she moved to Plainview where she worked for Luster Laundry and sat with the elderly in Abernathy, Petersburg, Dimmitt, Earth and Plainview. She moved to Dimmitt in 1989 and was a Methodist. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. Floyd Terrell PLAINVIEW - Floyd Terrell, 69, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Max Browning, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mr. Terrell was born in Providence Community and grew up in Bellview Community. He graduated from Plainview High School and attended Wayland Baptist University. He farmed in Floyd County before moving to a farm in Hale County in 1959. Mr. Terrell was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he was in the Open Door Sunday School Class and served as chairman of the administrative board and several other church boards. He was a 4-H volunteer leader and a recipient of the Silver Spur award. Mr. Terrell was named 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year for District II. He was a former past president of the Hillcrest Parent-Teacher Organization and also of the Hale County Stock Show Board. He married June Patterson in 1950 at Plainview. He was preceded in death by a son, Terry Terrell, in 1995. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Debbie Riddle of Plainview; a son, Patt Terrell of Plainview; his mother, Faye Terrell of Plainview; a brother, Cloyce Terrell of Canyon; a sister, Dorothy Faye Glover of Lubbock; and six grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch or to the First United Methodist Church. Robert Emmett Crotty CHILDRESS - Robert Emmett Crotty, 72, of Chicago, died Thursday, April 15, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home in Childress. Mr. Crotty was born in Fort Worth and was a World War II veteran who served at Iwo Jima. For 30 years, he was a captain of a tug boat out of Burns Harbor in Indiana. He was a longtime resident of Chicago. Survivors include a sister, Cindy Ribar of Sterling, Va.; a brother, David Crotty of Llano; and an aunt, Florence Gallagher of Childress. Jack McKee SPEARMAN - Jack McKee, 49, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Ochiltree Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Knighton officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mr. McKee was born in Pratt, Kan., and moved to Spearman 29 years ago from Perryton. He was a 1968 graduate of Perryton High School and attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Mr. McKee was a former employee of Speartex Grain Co., and Cargill Inc. He was a member of First Christian Church of Perryton. Survivors include his mother, Fontella McKee of Spearman, and a sister, Sue Drum of Yorba Linda, Calif. Amarillo Mamie Lu Hutcherson Mamie Lu "Buddy" Hutcherson, 84, of Amarillo, died Saturday, April 17, 1999. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Ms. Hutcherson was born in Philadelphia, Mo., and moved to Amarillo in 1998 from Jefferson City, Mo. During World War II, she served in the Army. She was a legal secretary and of the Methodist faith. Survivors include three nephews, Billy Wormsbaker of Alturas, Calif., Neil Wormsbaker of Mesa, Ariz., and Bryce Wormsbaker of Childress; and two nieces, Tiana Swafford of Amarillo and Myrna Garcia of Alturas. The family suggests memorials be to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Nursing Home of Amarillo. Vergal Allen Vergal "Red" Allen, 81, of Amarillo, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Dale Bigham, pastor of Arden Road Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Chillicothe Cemetery. Mr. Allen was born in Chillicothe where he lived most of his life before moving to Amarillo a short time ago. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement. Mr. Allen was a member of the Chillicothe United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He coached amateur sports teams for several years. He married Kathryn Allison in 1947 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Moody Allen and Ronnie Allen, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Ramona Adams of Arvada, Colo.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Lucille Pearl Price Lucille Pearl Price, 88, of Amarillo, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sammie Rainey, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Price was born in Penelope and had lived in Amarillo for 55 years. She was a homemaker and member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she had taught Sunday School for 30 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Leonard Price, in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Lynn Kuhn of Amarillo; a sister, Lanelle Price of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Trinity United Methodist Church, 3400 S. Jackson, Amarillo, TX 79109; or to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. The body will not be available for viewing. New Mexico Bryan H. Pulz CLOVIS, N.M. - Bryan H. Pulz, 38, died Friday, April 16, 1999. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Masonic services will be by Mac Page and Adam Crouch. Mr. Pulz was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, and had lived in Clovis since 1963. He graduated from Clovis High School in 1979. He was a student at Eastern New Mexico University where he was studying computer programming and was to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree. He received his United States citizenship in 1995. He was president of Federation of the Blind and was a member of Clovis Masonic Lodge 40 AF&AM. Survivors include his parents, Gerhard and Hidegunde Pulz of Clovis; his wife, Corina Pulz of Portales, N.M.; his children, Cassandra Pulz, Melissa Pulz and Sarah Pulz, all of Clovis; and his former wife, Suzanna Pulz of Clovis. The family requests memorials be to Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Shrine Hospital Crusade. Henry Dee Smith CLOVIS, N.M. - Henry Dee Smith, 80, died Saturday, April 18, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Twin Oaks Cemetery in Artesia with the Rev. Wayne Bedingfield officiating. Arrangements are by SteedTodd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Smith was born in Gainesville, Texas. A longtime resident of Clovis, he previously lived in Artesia. He married Willie Belle Clark, who died in 1974. Survivors include a son, Bobby Smith of Belleville, Mich.; a daughter, Sharon Grice of Dodge City, Kan.; two sisters, Leo Bachman of Clovis and Linda Guinan of Artesia; two brothers, Norman Smith and Charles Smith, both of Artesia; and four grandchildren. Elsewhere Lennard Fudge MACON, Ga. - Lennard Fudge, 85, died Sunday, April 11, 1999. Services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Crest Lawn Funeral Home. Burial was in Macon Memorial Park. Mr. Fudge was an Army veteran of World War II and was retired from Robins Air Force Base. He was a member of Church of the Wildwood. Survivors include his wife, Trellie; stepchildren, Betty Willingham, Tommy Bates and Wanda Axton, all of Macon, June Suedbeck of Fayetteville, N.C., Fay Gatte of Sulphur, La., and Selma McCook of Milledgeville; a sister, Lelah Lechner of Amarillo; 28 stepgrandchildren; 40 great-stepgrandchildren; and 10 great-great-stepgrandchildren. The family may be contacted at 574 Chickamauga Drive. Peggy L. Stephenson EARLY - Peggy L. Stephenson, 73, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Eastlawn Park with Dr. J.A. McDaniel officiating. Arrangements are by Heartland Funeral Home of Early. Mrs. Stephenson was born in Amarillo and moved to Brownwood in 1993. She was a homemaker and member of Faith Baptist Church in Brownwood. She married Horace Richard Stephenson in 1949 at Panhandle. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Vickie Lish of Mason, W.Va.; two sons, Richard Stephenson of Early and Randy Stephenson of Stateville, N.C.; a brother, Phil Goodwin of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild. Oklahoma Violet Carter White GUYMON, Okla. - Violet Carter White, 93, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Elkhart Cemetery with eulogies by Chase Parker and Sharon Davis Morgan. Arrangements are by HensonNovak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mrs. White was born in Jetmore, Kan., and was raised in the JetmoreDodge City area. Prior to moving to Guymon three years ago, she lived in Dodge City, Sublette, Kan., and Elkhart, Kan. She was an accomplished horsewoman. An active member of the Eastern Star, Mrs. White was a past worthy matron, mother adviser to the Rainbow Girls and grand chapter district aide. In 1992, she was honored with a 50-year pin. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sublette, a past member of the Business and Professional Women in Elkhart and the Home Demonstration and Garden clubs. She married Crockett M. White in 1961 at Golden, Colo. Her first marriage was to Robert H. "Nick" Carter in 1923 at Dodge City. Survivors include her husband of Fort Lyons, Colo.; four daughters, Phyllis Carter Morgan of Guymon, Betty Jeanne Carter Kaump of Napa, Calif., Otelia Ann "Rusty" Carter of Lake Charles, La., and Jere Lynn White Peters of Greensburg, Kan.; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. A Violet Carter Memorial has been established for the Alpha Phi ESA-Cathy Parker Memorial Fund and donations will be accepted at the funeral home. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.