Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 12 September 2002 Thanks to http://www.amarillonet.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved. Amarillo Globe-News http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------ All Obits - Text Only Roger M. Gruhlkey ADRIAN - Roger M. Gruhlkey, 95, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church of Adrian with the Rev. Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega by Vega Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Gruhlkey was born in Geary, Okla. He was a farmer and served on several boards within the community. He was highly involved with Oldham County. He was a member and served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Adrian. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cosetta Snook Gruhlkey, whom he married in 1931 at Tucumcari, N.M.; and a son, Roger E. Gruhlkey. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Carter of Harrisburg, Neb., Billie Neal of Amarillo and Gale Bennett of Panhandle; a son, Dale Gruhlkey of Adrian; 12 grandchildren, Bill, Jim, Kurt, Keith, Bart, Lea, Tammie, Jamie, Stacie, Sarah, Matt and Ben; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 106, Adrian, TX 79001; or Memorial Park Cemetery, P.O. Box 496, Vega, TX 79092. The family will be at Mr. Gruhlkey's home in Adrian. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 William "Bill" Pletcher PERRYTON - William "Bill" Pletcher, 85, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Pletcher was a farmer/rancher. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Perryton. He was a member of the school board and North Plains Water District board. He was the 1971 conservation farmer of the year. He coached at Westbrook and Memphis. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Earl and Mattie Pletcher; and a daughter, Janie Taylor, in 2000. Survivors include his wife, Mildred; two sons, Bill Pletcher of Perryton and John Pletcher of Canyon; a sister, Ella Mae Wagner of Perryton; and six grandchildren, Matt Pletcher, Tony Taylor and Melissa Pletcher, all of Austin, Tracy Ware of Amarillo, and Tanner Pletcher and Taylor Pletcher, both of Canyon. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1272, Perryton, TX 79070; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Maria Christina Yniguez Young CANADIAN - Maria Christina Yniguez Young, 27, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, in Amarillo. Mass was at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. David Contreras, priest, officiating. Burial will be in Davao City, Philippines, by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Young received a master's degree from Ateneo De Davao University in the Philippines. She married Benjamin Cacanog Young on April 13, 2002, in Las Vegas. Survivors include her husband; her parents, Jufort and Flocerfida Yniguez of Davao City; and a sister, Binky Yniguez of Davao City. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Harvie Newton Price Harvie Newton Price, 82, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, the Rev. James Ivey Edwards, pastor of First United Methodist Church, and David Wilson, pastor of Body of Christ Church in Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mr. Price was born April 1, 1920, in Emmett, Navarro County, and was a resident of Amarillo before moving to Clarendon in 1954. He married Nannie June Davis on Oct. 8, 1947, at Wellington. He owned and operated Price's Truck Stop in Clarendon from 1954 until 1986, then Price's Tire Service from 1986 until retiring in 1999. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Clarendon. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Cindy Caldwell of Pampa and Susie Shadle of Clarendon; two sons, Bill Price of Clarendon and Rick Price of O'Donnell; four sisters, Vernon McCullough of Lancaster, Norma Dee McKelvy of Abilene, Joyce Bettis of Amarillo and Bettye Baumgardner of Wellington; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Casket bearers include Kenneth Youngblood, Alan Stanley, David Baumgardner, Joe Baumgardner, Troy Crow, Bob Havens, Larry Rothwell and Dennis Davis, all nephews of Mr. Price. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 J.P. Sims J.P. Sims, 75, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Alvin Petty, pastor, and the Rev. Gene Box of Florida officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Sims was a resident of Friona since 1955, moving from Plainview. He was born June 4, 1927, in Ira. He worked for Parmer County Pump for 20 years. He was a maintenance foreman at Excel Meat Packing plant in Friona, retiring in 1989. He was co-owner of 4 Way Pump Co. in Friona from 1982 to 2000. He married Jonell Box on March 30, 1951, in Clovis, N.M. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Friona and a retired deacon of that church. He was a member of Friona American Legion Post No. 206 and served as commander of the 18th district of American Legion and as commander of the 4th division of the American Legion. He also served as chaplain of the 18th district of American Legion. He was a member of VFW and served for 19 years on the Friona Volunteer Fire Department. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Jo Sims, on June 1, 1958. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bobby Sims of Santee, Calif., and James Sims of Grapevine; two daughters, Amelia Taylor of Friona and Angelia Amason of Amarillo; a sister, Rose R. Welch of Seminole; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church; or Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Barbara Dell Hise Whittenberg PANHANDLE - Barbara Dell Hise Whittenberg, 62, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Glen Walton of North Amarillo Church of Christ and Shawn Davis, minister of Panhandle Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo by N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors of Amarillo, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Whittenberg passed from this life and has gone to heaven. She was born to Vernon and LaVerne Hise on May 16, 1940, in Los Angeles. Vernon Hise was a member of the Navy. She graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1958 and married Don Whittenberg on Aug. 29, 1958. She served as a school secretary for 33 years while Don taught and coached at River Road, Sunray and Panhandle. She was known to her students as "Mrs. Whitt" as she tended to matters from scraped knees to broken hearts. She was a friend to many and a caregiver to all she met. She was "Mom" to four children; "Nanny" to 10 grandchildren; and "Aunt Barbara" to 12 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father in 1952; an infant sister in 1952; her mother in 1999; her older brother, Bobby Hise, a lifetime preacher and youth minister for several area Churches of Christ, on Sept. 5, 2002. Survivors include her husband; four children, Donna Heard, Kevin Whittenberg and Kyle Whittenberg, all of Albuquerque, N.M., and Kim Wheeler of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and 12 nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice of Amarillo; or American Cancer Society. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Mason Riley Rodriguez Barton HIGGINS - Mason Riley Rodriguez Barton, infant son of Marisol Nadine Rodriguez and Garrett Barton, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002, in Shattuck, Okla. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Higgins Cemetery with Jerry Don Cheshire, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Mason Funeral Home of Shattuck. Survivors include his parents. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Vivian Fennell PLAINVIEW - Vivian Fennell, 92, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in United Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Horn, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Bartley-Silva Funeral Home. Mrs. Fennell was born June 25, 1910, in Nacogdoches. She was a member of United Baptist Church. Survivors include four daughters, Virginia Woods, Carolyn Thompson and Birdie Owens, all of Plainview, and Qullar Westmoreland of Carson, Calif.; a son, Billy D. Fennell of Austin; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Amarillo Eva F. Wilson Eva F. Wilson, 73, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Washington Avenue Christian Church with Jim Shelburne, senior pastor, and Kenneth Moore officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Wilson was born in Centralia, Mo., on March 15, 1929, where she also attended school. She married B.F. Wilson in Centralia on Dec. 26, 1950. They immediately moved to Amarillo where they resided for 42 years. She was a homemaker and active at Washington Avenue Christian Church. She spent many years working with Girl Scouts as a Girl Scout leader, and with the Cub Scouts as a Cub Scout leader. She spent more than 10 years as a forwarding agent for Sendai Rural Missions in Japan for Milton Jones Missionary. During the next 12 years, she spent the summers in Eagle Nest, N.M., where she was active in the Moreno Valley Church of Christ, and the winters in Weslaco, where she was active at Bridge Avenue Church of Christ. She was an avid letter writer and quilter and loved to play cards. Survivors include her husband; a daughter Sharol Finley and husband, Todd, of Amarillo; two sons, Ben Wilson and wife, Tara, of Amarillo and Carl Wilson and wife, Penny, of Clovis, N.M.; a sister, Verda B. Estes of Centralia; eight grandchildren, Barry Wilson of Dallas, Macy Wilson, Julie Wilson, Taylor Finley and Jordy Finely, all of Amarillo, and Lisa Wilson, Andrew Wilson and Jameson Wilson, all of Clovis; two nieces, Tawnya Kresse of Ballwin, Mo., and Waldene Johnson of Lucerne Valley, Calif.; and a nephew, Shawn Estes of Jefferson City, Mo. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 George Adams George Adams, 51, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in New Covenant Baptist Church with the Rev. James Mims, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Mr. Adams was born in Amarillo and was a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, Colo. Survivors include his mother, Elnora Terry of Amarillo; two sons, Quincy Green and Franklyn Adams, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Kimosa Adams and Zdeneka Adams, both of Amarillo; seven sisters, Maxine Reeves, Frankie Tinner and Linda Terry, all of Amarillo, and Jean Terry, Gail Terry, Jessie Terry and Betty Simmons, all of Colorado Springs; two brothers, Bobby Terry of Colorado Springs and William Terry of Tucson, Ariz.; and a grandchild. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Carolina Soriano Carolina Soriano, 40, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. No services are planned. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Ms. Soriano was born in Mexico, moving to Amarillo three months ago. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Emmanual Soriano; and a daughter, Crystal Soriano. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Mary Paine Baland Mary Paine Baland, 96, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. David Sholly officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Baland was born in Vicksburg, Miss., on Sept. 23, 1905, and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1948. She lived in her home on Sunset Terrace for more than 50 years. She was a recent resident of Craig Methodist Retirement Community. She married Merrill Nelson "Bob" Baland on May 31, 1931, in Amarillo. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998. Survivors include two daughters, Bobbie Neidig of Fort Myers, Fla., and Marilyn Gibson of Stewartstown, Pa.; a brother, Joe Paine of Natchez, Miss.; three sisters, Janie Metzen of Vicksburg, Miss., Katherine Nichols of Olive Branch, Miss., and Grace Wunsch of Baton Rouge, La.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Ernestine C. Blankenship Ernestine C. Blankenship, 77, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. Memorial Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in San Jacinto Baptist Church with Trent Sisemore officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Blankenship was born in Groom. She graduated from Amarillo High School and Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing. She worked on the orthopedic staff as a registered nurse at St. Anthony's and High Plains Baptist Hospitals for 50 years. She was very active in different ministries within San Jacinto Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Ernest Odell, in 1986. Survivors include a daughter, Shelia K. Keene of Bentonville, Ark.; three sons, Richard T. Blankenship of Austin, Frank S. Blankenship of Amarillo and Kyle Blankenship of Mount Monmouth, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to San Jacinto Baptist Church mission fund; or Peoples Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Louise Shelton Louise Shelton, 84, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 S. Bell St., with Gregg Wren and Darwayne Wren officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Shelton was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Chandler. She married Elijah Shelton in 1962 in Frederick, Okla. Survivors include her children, Francis Shelton, Genice Shelton, Ivory Wren, Judy Shelton, Eleanor Shelton, Cynthia Shelton, Bernice Lax, Vernon Shelton, Elijah Shelton Jr. and Miller Shelton; two brothers; five sisters; numerous grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 New Mexico Zane Axe CLOVIS, N.M. - Zane Axe, 73, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Palo Duro Wildorado Cemetery, south of Wildorado, Texas. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Axe was born Sept. 23, 1928, in Hereford, Texas. He moved to Clovis in 1962. Survivors include three brothers, John Richard Axe of Medford, Ore., William David Axe of Clovis and Ray Dean Axe of Belen. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 Elsewhere Alta Blasingame INGLESIDE - Alta Blasingame, 93, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Charlie Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Aransas Pass with the Rev. Dee Blasingame officiating. Burial will be in Prairie View Cemetery. Mrs. Blasingame had lived in Amarillo for the past four years. She had lived in Ingleside since 1958. Survivors include two sons, Wallace Blasingame of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Dee Blasingame of Ingleside; two daughters, Naomi Wilson and Doris Rogers, both of Amarillo; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 12, 2002 This story printed from the Amarillo Globe-News Online at amarillonet.com: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/091202/obi_allobits.shtml