Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 May 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; Monday, May 24, 1999, 6:05 AM Area Christine Lofberg DUMAS - Christine Lofberg, 75, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Lofberg was born in Roy, N.M., and had lived in Dumas since 1981. She received a master's degree from Highland University at Las Vegas, N.M., and retired as Director of Community Education in Dumas in 1994. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Fred Lofberg of Kensington, Md.; her mother, Laura Nowlin of Dumas; three sisters, Alice McDade of Dumas, Betty Richardson of Ritchey, Mo., and Pat Ohlen of Omaha, Neb.; a brother, D.J. White of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family will be at 803 Stanford in Dumas and suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 617, Dumas, TX 79029, Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029 or Everlasting Care Fund, Dumas Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 791, Dumas, TX 79029. Melvina Witt DIMMITT - Melvina Witt, 84, died Sunday, May 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Ivy Chapel, Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Witt was born in Childress and grew up in Dimmitt and Flagg, where she attended school. In Dimmitt she was owner of Northside Cafe for several years and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and First United Methodist Church. She married Marvin S. Witt in 1934 at Castro County. He died in 1975. She was also preceded in death by a son, Melvin D. Witt, in 1977. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Stamps of Post; three brothers, Clarence Wood of Dimmitt, Clovis Wood of North Little Rock, Ark. and Clifford Wood of Portales, N.M.; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Sonja Johnson HEREFORD - Sonja Latham Johnson, 38, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Frio Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Perkins officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in San Antonio and was a secretary and bookkeeper for nine years for both Bevilles Livestock and Dr. Dale Furr. She was a member of the Frio Baptist Church. She married Larry Johnson in 1976 at San Angelo. Survivors include her husband; a son, Heath Johnson of Hereford; a daughter, Talena Johnson of Hereford; her father and stepmother, Lonnie and Linda Latham of Hereford; her stepfather, Dan Blackwell of Colorado City; two brothers, Kevin Simmons of Austin and Keith Latham of Corpus Christi; six sisters, Brenda DePaul and Rhonda Pearson, both of Junction, Lelonnie Morgan, Ann Johnston and Cheryl Blackwell, all of San Angelo, Stacy Bridwell and Kim Smith, both of Hereford and Zaylee Latham of Amarillo; and a grandchild. Taylor Inman CHILDRESS - Taylor Inman, 20, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kerry Hurst, retired Methodist minister of Lubbock, officiating and the Rev. Johnny Robertson of First United Methodist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Inman was born in Memphis and graduated from Childress High School in 1996. He was a salesman and had been attending West Texas A&M University. Survivors include his mother and father, Gina Inman and John Inman of Childress; his sister, Lindsey Inman of Dallas; and grandmothers, Virginia Butler and Johnnie Inman, both of Childress. Amarillo Betty Jean Franklin Betty Jean Franklin, 74, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Dickerson, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Miss Franklin was born in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1942. She worked for Santa Fe Railway for over 20 years and from 1966 until 1990 was payroll supervisor at Amarillo College. She was a member of Temple Baptist Church. She is survived by a sister, Louise Higgins of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Gertrude Alice Bowen Gertrude Alice Bowen, 84, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 21, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Llano Mausoleum with the Rev. Bob Murphy of Paramount Terrace Christian Church Senior Ministries, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, 315 E. Fifth. Mrs. Bowen was born in Shanghai, China, and worked as a clerk-typist for the Dutch Bank while in China. She later lived in Dallas and Sayre, Okla., where she worked at a newspaper before moving to Amarillo 46 years ago. In Amarillo, she worked for Affiliated Foods for 30 years and was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church and of the Order of Eastern Star. She married Byron Bowen in 1935. He died in 1985. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Crawford and Casey Eddy, both of Amarillo; a sister, Dorene Bartrum of Australia; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1202 S. Western St. and suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101. E. Wayne Koontz E. Wayne Koontz, 63, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Messenger Worship Center. Burial will be at Llano East Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Koontz was born in McAlister, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for 50 years. He owned Texas Auto Parts, was a 32nd Degree Mason at Palo Duro Lodge No. 1239 and a member of the Khiva Temple. He was a Christian. He was preceded in death by a son, Allen Koontz, in 1992. He married Joyce Dreadin in 1954 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Gary Koontz and Walter Koontz, both of Amarillo; three daughters, Pam Koontz, Brenda Sechrist and Sue Moore, all of Amarillo; a brother, Earl Koontz of Amarillo; two sisters, Glenda Ray of Allen, Okla. and Francille Edwards of Dallas; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 10201 Amarillo Blvd. and suggests memorials be to the Shriners Burn Hospital, 610 Galveston Ave., Galveston, TX 77550 or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. New Mexico Willene Hemphill CLAYTON, N.M. - Willene Hemphill, 73, died Saturday, May 22, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Revs. Billy Rammage, pastor, and Leon Laney, pastor of Spiritual Life Center in Dalhart, officiating. Burial will be in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hemphill was born in Union County, N.M., near Texline, where she attended school. She worked at Hemphill Shamrock and Auto Repair and operated a mail route to Boise City, Okla. for 15 years. In Clayton, she worked at Jacque's Shoes and was a member of First Baptist Church, Clayton Senior Citizen Center and the Golden Age Club. She married J.C. "Jay" Hemphill in 1942 at Boise City, Okla. He died in 1996. She was also preceded in death by a son, Johnny Charles Hemphill, in 1950. Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Brown of Dalhart; three sisters, Emma Zielke of Balko, Okla., Margaret Wheeler of Woodward, Okla. and Mary Ann Davis of Crossett, Ark.; a brother, J.W. Claborn of Marble Falls; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Clayton Senior Citizens Center, 19 East Broadway, Clayton, N.M. 88415 or the First Baptist Church of Clayton, 223 Oak St., Clayton, N.M. 88415. Elsewhere Charles D. Gibbs VERNON - Charles D. Gibbs, 75, died Sunday, May 23, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Wilbarger Street Church of Christ with Jay Hanley, minister, and Joe Dale Wilson, minister of Fargo Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Eastview Cemetery by Sullivan Funeral Home. Mr. Gibbs was born in Petrolia and had lived in Vernon and Quanah for most of his life. He was a retired salesman, a member of Wilbarger Street Church of Christ and served with the Army during World War II. He married Cassie Beck in 1942 at Vernon. She died in 1990. He married Ethelene Jordan Bledsoe in 1991 also at Vernon. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Bruce Gibbs of Plano, Randle Gibbs of Weatherford, Freddie Gibbs of Vernon and Jon Gibbs of Palestine; a stepdaughter, Debbie Ramsey of Vernon; two stepsons, Jimmy Bledsoe of Archer City and David Bledsoe of Quanah; five brothers, Daymon Gibbs and Garland Gibbs, both of Vernon, Ralph Gibbs of San Jose, Calif., Kenneth Gibbs of Borger and J.D. Gibbs of Kenner, La.; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 7 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of Wichita Falls.