Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 16 Feb 2001 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: Darren McCathern (quohadi@quackquack.com) Thanks to the Amarillo Newspapers for allowing us to place their online obits in the USGenWeb Archives ==================================================================== Frank Varona Frank "Frenchie" Varona, 80, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Amarillo Bible Church with Jim Gianoutsos of the church officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Varona was born and raised in Tampa, Fla. During World War II, he served in the Army. In 1945, he moved to Waco, where he attended school and graduated. A sheet-metal mechanic, he moved to Amarillo in the late 1940s and worked for several sheet-metal businesses. He owned and operated Frenchie Sheet-Metal from 1963 until retiring in 1996. He volunteered for charity organizations and attended Church of God Anderson, Amarillo Bible Church and Mennonite First Church. Mr. Varona was married to Jeffie Virginia Edingberg in 1962. She died in 1971. He married Rachel Albrecht in 1973 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Clementina Bode of Tampa and Elosie Grandonca of Brandon, Fla.; and a brother, Tony Varona of Tampa. The family suggest memorials be to Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501. The family will be at 203 N. Tennessee St. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Jewel Fay Wakefield Jewel Fay Wakefield, 93, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Glen Walton officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Wakefield was born in Reno and raised in Lockney. She moved to Amarillo in 1936 from Hall County. She was a member of Northside Church of Christ and a volunteer with the Northwest Texas Hospital Auxiliary. She married Ernest Cash Wakefield in 1926 at Floydada. He died in 1983. She also was preceded in death by a son, Wayne Wakefield, in 1999. Survivors include two daughters, Raydell Palmer and Darlene Campbell Chesshir, both of Amarillo; two sons, Hays Wakefield of Amarillo and Deral Wakefield of Denton; three brothers, Harvey Hays of Plainview, Paul Hays of Edmondson and Elmer Hays of Canyon; two sisters, Pauline Barrett of Kress and Ada Richardson of Dalhart; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat grandson. The family will be at 3510 Rutson Drive. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Lavern R. Roberts Lavern R. "LR" Roberts, 74, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Bell Avenue Chapel of Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. David Evans of Trinity Baptist Church officiating. Mr. Roberts was born in Maud, Okla. During World War II, he served in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre. He was a salesman for Kirby Corp. and a musician. Mr. Roberts married Gwen Poling in 1946 at Clovis, N.M. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Wendell Eugene Roberts. Survivors include his wife; six daughters, Lynda McCollum, Debbie Armstrong and Carolyn Spencer, all of Amarillo, Donna Dick of Clovis, Janie Henthorn of Oklahoma City and Diane Stokes of Hereford; two sisters, Oneida Ellison of Portales, N.M., and Gwenda Morris of Merkel; a brother, Pat Roberts of Amarillo; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Anna Marie Peterson Anna Marie Peterson, 95, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Meno, Okla. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Peterson was born on a farm near Meno. She lived in Perryton for 10 years before moving to Ringwood, Okla., then to a farm north of Meno. In the mid 1970s she moved to Amarillo, where she attended the Amarillo Bible Church. She was married to Johnny Peterson in 1926. He died in 1970. Survivors include a son, Delmar Peterson of Enid, Okla.; three daughters, Mle Muzingo of Shellsburg, Iowa, Wynona Anderson of Westminster, Calif., and Rita London of Rocky, Okla.; two sisters, Lena Boston of Amarillo and Caroline Jantzen of Enid; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 G.H. Hickman G.H. "Tommy" Hickman, 76, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with Wyley Chaney officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Hickman was born in Terral, Okla. He graduated from Bowie High School in Bowie. During World War II, he served in the Navy. He was a terminal manager for Chief Freight Lines in Dallas. He was a Mason and a Baptist. Mr. Hickman was married to Mayfair Chaney in 1947 at Wichita Falls. She died in 1997. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Gail Sanders of Fort Collins, Colo.; a sister, Kathleen Cloer of Fort Collins; a brother, Bunk Hickman of Louisiana; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106; or American Diabetes Association, Potter / Randall Chapter, P.O. Box 50433, Amarillo, TX 79159. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Ida Mae Newman Ida Mae Newman, 90, of Amarillo, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 701 Quail Creek Drive, with Rex Dowling, elder, officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mrs. Newman was born in Oxford, Miss. She moved to Amarillo in 1990. She was a factory worker and a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Survivors include a son, Lonnie Turner of Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 John William Smith John William Smith, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Windell Taylor, chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors rendered by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 26. Mr. Smith was born in Alliance, Ohio. He moved to Amarillo from Missouri in 1952. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a plumber, was active in Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow, and the Kwahadi Indian Dancers. He was a member of the Plumbers Union Local No. 196. Mr. Smith was married to Allie V. Lishman in 1951. Survivors include his wife; a son, Larry W. Smith of Amarillo; and four brothers, Olaf Smith and Astie Smith, both of California, Mark Smith of Tulsa, Okla., and James Smith of Washington, D.C. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Roberta June Main Roberta June Main, 80, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Southlawn Assembly of God with the Rev. Jerad Middaugh officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Main was born in Jet, Okla. A longtime resident of Amarillo, she retired as owner of Rexair Rainbow Co. She was a member and president of the WMC of Southlawn Assembly of God. Mrs. Main was preceded in death by her husband, Jess L. Main, in 1971. Survivors include a daughter, June Sorrells of Panhandle; two brothers, Jack Robinson of Enid, Okla., and Cecil Robinson of St. Louis; a sister, Audrey Willyerd of Wynnewood, Okla.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Southlawn Assembly of God, 4300 S. Bowie St., Amarillo, TX 79110; or BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. The family will be at 3807 S. Ong St. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Elsewhere D. Gayle Trew PALO PINTO - D. Gayle Trew, 53, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, in Mineral Wells. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Margie Holmes and the Rev. Sally Fleming officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Hill Top Cemetery at McLean. Arrangements are by BaumCarlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home of Mineral Wells. Mrs. Trew was born in Perryton and moved to Palo Pinto in 1996. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church in Palo Pinto. Survivors include a son, Janson McGee of Norman, Okla.; her mother, Beryl Trew of Perryton; a sister, Vivian Basler of Claremore, Okla.; a brother, Harold Trew of Lubbock; two grandchildren; and a special friend, Weldon Isham of Palo Pinto. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Palo Pinto. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 J.L. Partlow MULBERRY, Ark. - J.L. Partlow, 71, of Amarillo and formerly of Mulberry, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Vine Prairie Baptist Church. Burial will be in King Cemetery by Edwards VanAlma Funeral Home of Van Buren. He was a retired cotton farmer and an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Pam Vaught of Amarillo; two sons, James Partlow of Roswell, N.M., and Joe Partlow of Lubbock, Texas; his mother, Jewel Daniel of Mulberry; a sister, Zetta Daniel of Klamath Falls, Ore.; four brothers, David Partlow and Mike Daniel, both of Mulberry, Clarence Partlow of Fort Smith and Ed Daniel of Tulsa, Okla.; seven grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Area Melvin Gregg PLAINVIEW - Melvin Gregg, 98, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ with Jessie Pinkerton, David Pinkerton and Bennie Estes officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Gregg was born in Travis County and raised in Mitchell County. He lived in Anton before moving to Plainview in 1942. He farmed in Dalhart, Plainview, Littlefield and Anton. He was a former member of the Second and Beech Church of Christ and a member of 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ, where he was active with the youth group. He held an Honorary Chapter Member Degree with FFA and a Gold Spur award with 4H. Mr. Gregg was married to Leota Fay Brown in 1926 at Mitchell County. She died in 1992. He also was preceded in death by a son, Draper Ray Gregg. Survivors include a daughter, Helen E. Savage Heath of Tishomingo, Okla.; three sons, Kenneth Gregg and Lenis Lee Gregg, both of Plainview, and Roy D. Gregg of Fort Worth; two foster children, Hughe and Janette Jester of Houston; niece and nephew, Sharon Brown and David Brown, whom he raised; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ in Plainview. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Fabiana R. Munoz HALE CENTER - Fabiana R. Munoz, 77, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001. Prayer service was at 7 p.m. Thursday in Bartley-Silva Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Church of the Valley with the Rev. Eugenio Borjas and the Rev. Eliseo Saldana officiating. Burial will be in Hale Center Cemetery. Mrs. Munoz was born in Lockhart. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Augustine Munoz, in 1986. Survivors include four daughters, Maria Borjas and Vela Flores, both of Hale Center, Maltide Martinez of Plainview, and Maria Cuellar of Abernathy; four sons, David Rodriguez of Floydada, George Hernandez of Plainview, Daniel Rodriquez of San Antonio and Ignacio Rodriquez Jr. of Lockney; and 23 grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to Vista Care Family Hospice, 4418 Olton Road, Plainview, TX 79072. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Bill R. Jones TULIA - Bill R. Jones, 70, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Jones was born in Allison and graduated from Allison High School. He owned farming interests in Wheeler and Hemphill counties and had lived in Sunray, working as assistant manager of Sunray Co-op. In 1965 he moved to Tulia, where he operated an elevator and farmed. He owned and managed Tan Inn in Amarillo. He was a member of First Baptist Church. Mr. Jones married Armenda Aderholt in 1948 at Wheeler. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Wendell Eugene Roberts. Survivors include his wife; a son, Tony Jones of Lubbock; two daughters, Janis Nall and Vicki Hall, both of The Colony; two brothers, Harold Jones of Wheeler and Troy Jones of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; two sisters, Kay Donaldson and Sharon Hall, both of Allison; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Tulia; or the Tulia Cemetery Special Projects Fund. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Florence Gentzel BORGER - Florence Gentzel, 82, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Calvin Newton, pastor of First Assembly of God, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Gentzel was born in Carnegie, Okla. A former Dumas resident, she had lived in Borger for 28 years. She was a bookkeeper for Dumas Cement Supply and a member of First Assembly of God. She married W.O. Gentzel in 1967 at Channing. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Fred Gentzel of Amarillo, Sonny Gentzel of Dallas, Bill Gentzel of Perryton and Johnny Lee Gentzel of Mesquite; two brothers, Earl Dean Peoples and Iva Dale Peoples, both of Henryetta Okla.; a sister, Shirley Peoples of Hobbs, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Jo Alice Garrett TULIA - Jo Alice Harmon Garrett, 72, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Perkins Patton officiating. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Albany Cemetery at Albany. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Garrett was born in Albany and grew up in Corsicana, graduating from Corsicana High School. She graduated from Texas Tech University, Magna Cum Laude in 1953, with a degree in history. She taught school in Borger. In 1975, she moved to Tulia, where she worked for Swisher County Library and became librarian in 1978. She retired in 1996. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Tulia and the Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Teachers Society. She was married to Max Littleton Garrett in 1947 at Corsicana. He died in 1999. Survivors include two daughters, Julie K. Fairchild of Dallas and Karen A. Garrett of Amarillo; a son, John Harmon Garrett of Leonard; and three granddaughters. The family suggests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund; or Swisher County Memorial Library. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 James Paul Ledbetter SILVERTON - James Paul Ledbetter, 95, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, in Lockney. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Donald Ledbetter and the Rev. Ronald Ledbetter, his sons, and the Rev. Randy Mullin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverton Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Ledbetter was born in Leary and grew up in East Texas, the Amarillo area and Yeso, N.M. He helped install telephone line in the Texas Panhandle and lit gas streetlights in Fort Worth. He was an auto mechanic and a farmer. In 1931 he moved to Briscoe County, living east of Silverton before moving to farm west of Silverton in 1939, and into town in 1990. He was a member and deacon emeritus of First Baptist Church, where he also taught Sunday school. Mr. Ledbetter was married to Earlene Hodges in 1930 at Coppell. She died in 1994. He also was preceded in death by three children, James Paul Ledbetter II, in 1933; Annissa Jane Ledbetter, in 1934; and Nolan Earl Ledbetter, in 1942. Survivors include two sons, Rev. Donald H. Ledbetter of Reno, Nev., and Rev. Ronald M. Ledbetter of Ponca City, Okla.; six grandchildren; and 10 greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Beatrice Willingham SUDAN - Beatrice "B" Willingham, 84, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, in Lubbock. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Littlefield Memorial Park Cemetery at Littlefield with the Rev. Lyndall Fletcher, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Willingham was born in Plainview. She graduated from Texas Tech College and taught high school home economics. She moved from Plainview to Sudan in 1953. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was married to William Ocie Willingham in 1953 at Plainview. He died in 1985. Survivors include nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, 411 Main St., Sudan, TX 79371. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 16, 2001 Susan Buford BORGER - Susan Buford, 51, of Amarillo and formerly of Borger, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Westlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Terry, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Miss Buford was born in Borger. She was a medical transcriptionist for Edix and formerly for Baptist St. Anthony's Health System. She had taught for the Amarillo Independent School District and was a librarian at Phillips schools. No survivors.