Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 31 March 2000 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; Thursday, April 13, 2000, 6:13 AM Area Eunice Rutherford CLAUDE - Eunice M. Rutherford, 104, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Claude United Methodist Church with Rev. Gerald Albers, of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Plainview Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, Schooler Armstrong Chapel, of Claude. Miss Rutherford was born in Young County, Texas. She was a graduate of West Texas State Teachers College. She had taught school at Hereford and worked for the United States Postal Service in Houston. She was a member of Claude United Methodist Church. Survivors include a brother, Seth Rutherford of Dallas; and a sister Billye Thomas of Claude. The family suggests memorials be to Claude United Methodist Church, 400 Trice, Claude, TX 79019. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Laura Mildred Slemmer DUMAS - Laura Mildred Slemmer, 88, died Monday, April 10, 2000. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Foothills Gardens of Memory at Longmont, Colo., with Rev. Jed Pancost, retired Methodist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors in Dumas. Mrs. Slemmer was born in Kansas. She had lived in Greeley, Colo., and in Fritch from 1967 to 1974. She moved to Dumas in 1974. She was a homemaker. She married Charles H. Slemmer in 1928 at Oklahoma. He died in 1966. She also was preceded by a son, Bobbie D. Slemmer in 1987; and a daughter, Ila Faye Orr in 1996. Survivors include two daughters, Jane Jeter of Wichita Falls and Mildred Ann Goad of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Ray Foster DALHART - Ray Foster, 91, died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, in Perryton. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Christian Church with Ray M. Guy, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Foster was born in Bowdle, S.D. He had lived in the Ware community at Dallam County, Texas. He attended school at Bunkerhill Community School and graduated in 1925. Mr. Foster served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in the 385th bomber group. He worked as a farmer and rancher for most of his life. He was a member of the First Christian Church, he taught Sunday school and was an elder. He married Betty Ann Grubb in 1952 at Dalhart. She died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Jon Michael Edler of Amarillo; three daughters, Laura Edler of Denver, Mary Foster of Perryton and Ann Brooks of Canyon; a sister, Edythe Guthrie of Redlands, Calif.; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church of Dalhart. The family will be at 901 Peters. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Eston Breitling TULIA - Eston Breitling, 80, died Wednesday, April 12, 2000. Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, assisted by Trey Morgan, pastor of Central Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Breitling was born in Whitehouse and had lived in Plainview until he moved to Canyon where he attended school. He graduated from Canyon High School. He worked as a heavy-equipment operator in pipeline construction until he joined the Army in 1944. He served as an Army engineer until his discharge in 1946. Mr. Breitling worked as an electrician with his brother in Canyon. In 1954, he moved to Tulia, where he worked as a farmer and rancher. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Marie O'Donald in 1940 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kathy Buttons Carlisle of Tulia; three sisters, Noreen Smith of Fort Worth, Alene Morris of Susanville, Calif., and Shirley Phillips of Hobbs, N.M.; two brothers, Herbert Breitling of Amarillo and J.D. Breitling of Dalhart; three granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Olivia's Angels at Baptist-St. Anthony Hospice of Amarillo; or the Bereavement Committee at the First Baptist Church in Tulia. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Amarillo Roland Escobedo Rudy Escobedo Roland Escobedo, 20, and Rudy Escobedo, 16, both of Amarillo, died Monday, April 10, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Laurence Cathedral by the Rev. Patrick Hoffman. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Roland Escobedo was born and raised in Amarillo. He graduated from Caprock High School, where he had been a member of the Marine Corps JROTC program and the JROTC drill team. He played first base for the Wesley Community Center baseball team and played softball for Gordo's Softball Team. He was an industrial motor rewinder. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Roland married Marenda Ash in 1998 at Amarillo. Rudy Escobedo was born and raised in Amarillo. He had been a student at Caprock High School. He played basketball at CHS and for the Wesley Community Center. He also played softball for Gordo's Softball Team. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. The brothers are survived by their mother, Rebecca Escobedo of Amarillo; four sisters, Michelle Basaldua, Priscilla Basaldua, Melissa Florentino and Wanita Florentino, all of Amarillo; a brother, Emmanuel Escobedo of Amarillo; and grandparents, Manuel and Dee L. Escobedo of Amarillo. Roland also is survived by his wife; a daughter, Marcella Reyna Escobedo; and a brother, Willie Lucero of Amarillo. Rudy also is survived by a sister, Stephenia Pantoja of Amarillo; and a brother, Carlos Paredes of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Crime Stoppers of Amarillo. The family will be at 2306 S. Cleveland St. or 6813 Rochelle. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Oscar Holbert Oscar "Bud" Holbert, 83, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Wood Dunning Colonial Chapel of Plainview with Rev. Jim Ritter, pastor of Seth Ward Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Abernathy Cemetery at Abernathy with Rev. Travis Shannon, pastor of Golden Pathways Church of Amarillo, officiating. Mr. Holbert was born in Paris, Texas. He served in the Army during World War II, where he was highly decorated. He worked most of his life on a farm and in oil fields as a roughneck. He was a Baptist. Survivors include two sisters, Patsy Holbert Rodgers of Hart and Diane Holbert Shannon of Amarillo; and two brothers, Jerry Holbert of San Antonio and Pat Holbert of Bakersfield, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to Family Council at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Gerald Riddlespurger Gerald W. Riddlespurger, 77, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Trinity Baptist Church with David Evans officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Riddlespurger was born in Mountain Park, Okla. He was a self-employed plumber and had also worked as a plumbing foreman for the Amarillo Independent School District until he retired. He was past worshipful master of San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 1330. He was a member of the Shriners, Mobile Noble and Trinity Baptist Church. He married Alleta Williams in 1949 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Mary Catherine Bryant of Fort Worth; two sons, Michael Riddlespurger of Richardson and Joel Riddlespurger of Amarillo; a brother Raymond Lee Riddlespurger of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Royal E. Wright Jr. Royal W. "RE" Wright Jr., 64, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Central Church of Christ Chapel with Wayne Burger, Eddie Messer and Dick Marcear, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Wright was born in Norman, Okla. In high school he was in the choral and while attending the University of Oklahoma, he was a soloist with the Men's Glee Club that performed on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1954. He studied voice and sang with the Abilene Christian College a cappella and orchestra. He was a minister of the Church of Christ. He earned his bachelor's degree in Koine Greek and worked on his two master's degrees in theology at ACC. He earned a Ph.D. in religion at Baylor University. Mr. Wright was a preacher for more than 20 years. He was a professor of Greek at Amarillo College and taught religious subjects at San Jacinto School of Preaching. In 1978 he became president of Amarillo Bindery Company. He was a graduate of Real Estate Institute and became a licensed broker in 1985. Mr. Wright was a member of the Multimillion Dollar Club for a number of years. He married Josephine Yvonne "Bonnie" Axe 41 years ago. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Laurie Diane Wright Fuller of Phoenix; a son, David Wright of Dallas; and two grandchildren. Visitors will be accepted 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Nona S. Forister Nona S. Forister, 90, of Amarillo, died Saturday, April 8, 2000. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church Chapel with Chester O'Brien officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Forister was born in Fort Dodge, Kan., and had lived in Amarillo for most of her life. She was reared and educated in Guthrie, Okla. Mrs. Forister had lived in Dumas, where she helped reorganize candy stripers of Memorial Hospital. She assisted in special education and was president of the 1932 Federated Study Club. She was a "pink lady" for the hospital auxiliary and a volunteer at the Dumas Rest Home. She was past president of the Women's Missionary Union of First Baptist Church in Dumas and the Dumas Senior Citizens. Mrs. Forister had been office manager for Fred Turner Enterprises, while in Amarillo. She had been a member of the Heritage Singer, Heritage Club, and Virginia Highfill Baptist Women. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Mary Class and assisted in special education. She married Wilson Forister in 1936. He died in 1966. Survivors include a sister, Mildred Robinette of Guthrie; a grandson, Larry Thompson of Amarillo; a granddaughter, Susan German of San Antonio; and a great-grandson. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to The Children's Home, 3400 Bowie St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Victor E. Broll Victor E. Broll, 90, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with monsignor Harold Waldow officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Broll was born in York Town, Texas. He moved to Panhandle in 1932. He served in the Army during World War II and moved to Amarillo in 1945. He had farmed in Amarillo. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Survivors include a sister, Rose Roach of Austin; and a brother-in-law, M.J. Traffas of Amarillo. The family will be at 1304 S. Monroe. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Oklahoma Delbert Erman Johnson GUYMON, Okla. - Delbert Erman "Del" Johnson, 45, formerly of Guymon, died Saturday, April 8, 2000, in Houston. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Henson-Novak Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Helen Tibbs of the House of Prayer in Pasadena, Texas, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mr. Johnson was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and grew up in Guymon, where he attended school. He joined the Army in 1973 and served until 1974. He moved to Florence, Colo., in 1982 and remained there until 1990. He also helped maintain and was a member of Straight Lake for several years. He moved to Pasadena in November. He was a truck driver and was a member of the House of Prayer. Mr. Johnson married Connie Bate in 1985. Survivors include his wife, of Pueblo, Colo.; two daughters, Ashley Johnson and April Johnson, both of Pueblo; a son, William R. Johnson of Pueblo; his mother, Wanda Robinson of Pasadena; his father, Delbert Johnson of Guymon; four sisters, Debbie Johnson of Dumas, Texas, Tammy Ebenstein of Wentzville, Mo., Kathy Kelly of Houston and Sue Helton of Cumming, Ga.; and three brothers, Fred Robinson, Terry Robinson and Jerry Robinson, all of Pasadena. The family suggests memorials be to Kids, Inc. in Guymon, and will be accepted by Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Opal Ruth Thompson BOISE CITY, Okla. - Opal Ruth Thompson, 86, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in St. Paul's United Methodist Church with David George and Vera Walton officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mrs. Thompson was born in Okeene, Okla. She moved to Cimarron County, Okla., in 1916 and attended school at Union Chapel School and Boise City High School. She was the first honorary alumni selected by the high school. She was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the St. Paul's United Methodist Women in Boise City. She married Raymond Arthur Thompson in 1929. She farmed with her husband. He died in 1972. She also was preceded in death by a son, Gary, in 1979. Survivors include a daughter, Ralene Strasburg of Drumright, Okla.; four sons, Duane Thompson of McLaughlin, S.D., Dean Thompson of Boise City, Neal Thompson of Perry, Okla., and Dennis Thompson of Independence, Kan.; a brother, Frank Walton of Boise City; a sister, Ethel Brown of Boise City; 18 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Paul's United Methodist Women in care of the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 Elsewhere Andrew Newton Fuqua HUGOTON, Kan. - Andrew Newton Fuqua, 62, died Monday, April 10, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Church of Christ with the Rev. Lee Skelton officiating. Burial will be in Hugoton Cemetery by Paul's Funeral Home. Mr. Fuqua was born in Spur, Texas. He moved to Hugoton from Spearman, Texas, 25 years ago. He was a rancher and a member of the Church of Christ. He married Madalyn Lane Schumann in 1957. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Neal Ross Fuqua of Hugoton and Dale Roy Fuqua of Bakersfield, Calif.; a sister, Alpha Mae Grice of Jayton, Texas; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000 L.D. Monroe COLEMAN - L.D. Monroe, 49, died Sunday, April 9, 2000. Graveside services were Wednesday in Talpa Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Roberts of North Coleman Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements were by Walker Funeral Home. Mr. Monroe was born in Coleman and had been a lifetime resident. Survivors include three sons, Stephen Monroe, Derek Monroe and Jake Monroe, all of Abilene; three sisters, Carolyn Hagler of Dumas, Barbara Templeton of Rankin and Betty Metts of Abilene; a brother, Ed Monroe of Coleman; and two grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, April 13, 2000