Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 14 September 2003 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 Publication Date: 09/14/03 The Rev. Fernand E. Couture SILVERTON - The Rev. Fernand E. Couture, 69, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003, in Lubbock. Mass will be at 3 p.m. today in Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Silverton with Bishop John Yanta presiding. The Legion of Mary in Amarillo will say the rosary at 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Laurence Cathedral in Amarillo. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. with Bishop John Yanta presiding. Burial will be in the priest's section of Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home of Amarillo, 4100 S. Georgia St. Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, in St. Monica's Church in Barre, Vt. The Rev. Couture was born Dec. 17, 1933, in Northfield, Vt. His death was the result of injuries sustained in a car wreck in Floyd County on Sept. 4. He graduated from St. Michael's High School in Montpelier, Vt. After high school and prior to becoming a priest, he owned and operated Douglas's Barber Shop in Montpelier for several years. He then entered Catholic Seminary to study for the priesthood and was ordained a Servant of the Paracletes on March 14, 1970, in Rome, at the Basilica of St. Paul. Throughout his 33 years as a priest the Rev. Couture served in several parishes and missions including Bolivia, Argentina, Barre, Montpelier, Alton, Ill., (as chaplain for the Catholic hospital), and Spearman, Dimmitt and Silverton, in the Catholic Diocese of Amarillo. The Rev. Couture was a member of the Lions Club of Dimmitt. He was instrumental in the leadership of the Legion of Mary, and the Catholic Pro-Life movement in the West Texas area. Subsequent to his ordination in Rome in 1970, the Rev. Couture continued his education with courses of study in church history, canon law and the ongoing study of foreign language. He was fluent in five different languages. His passion was the God he served and the people to whom he ministered. He was a strong advocate for the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist. He continued to be active daily in the ministry up to the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Bernadette (Fortier) Couture, formerly of Barre, and his siblings, Magella Couture, Gilles Couture, Jeannine Couture, Jacqueline (Couture) Provost and Diane Couture, all formerly of Barre. Survivors include two brothers, Raymond Couture and wife, Catherine, and Laurent Couture and wife, Claire, all of Montpelier; a sister, Suzanne Willette and husband, Joseph, of Graniteville, Vt.; a nephew, Tom Couture of Lubbock; and several other nieces and nephews who currently reside in Vermont. The body will be available for viewing today through Mass. The family suggests memorials be to Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Silverton. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Chris Cardinal HEREFORD - Chris Cardinal, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003. Funeral services will be under the direction of Parkside Chapel Funeral Home and will be announced at a later date. Mrs. Cardinal was born Nov. 21, 1921, in Abernathy, the daughter of Virgil and Opal Merrill. She married R.L. "Lonnie" Cardinal on Dec. 19, 1975, in Canyon. Mrs. Cardinal was a retired counselor for Texas Rehabilitation. Survivors include her husband, Lonnie; two sons, Kevin Cardinal of Hereford and Kris Cardinal of North Richland Hills; two daughters, Cheryl Brooks of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Kerri Grabber of Amarillo; a brother, Joe "Red" Merrill of Hereford; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family request memorials to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105 Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Thomas Irby Loter PAMPA - Thomas Irby Loter, 93, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Steve Porter, elder and Primitive Baptist minister, and Lester Lynch of Freewill Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Loter farmed in Childress and Hale County until 1976 when he retired and moved to Pampa. He was an avid fisherman and gardener. Survivors include his wife, Pauline; two daughters, Eloise Dowlen and Merilyn Howell, both of Pampa; two sons, Ronnie Loter and Lonnie Loter, both of Pampa; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Pampa Special Olympics or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Janie Carver-Griego DALHART - Janie Carver-Griego, 55, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Peoples Church with Jerry Davis, minister, and Ralph Mireles officiating. Arrangements are by Horizon Funeral Home. Mrs. Carver-Griego was born April 15, 1948, in Canyon, to Keene and Loraine (Miller) McDonald. Raised in Happy, Janie graduated from West Texas State University with a degree in accounting. In 1988, she moved to Dalhart and had worked as accounting manager at Coronado Feeders for 15 years. In 1996, she married Louis Griego. Janie was an accomplished interior designer, an avid gardener, seamstress and an advocate for all animals big and small. She enjoyed her grandchildren, and was loved by all who knew her. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Laura Baker and husband, Jarrett, of Hereford and Ashley Griego of Elk City, Okla.; two sons, Michael Carver and wife, Charlotte, of Kilgore and Darren Carver and wife, Lori, of Hereford; a sister, Susan McDonald of Santa Monica, Calif.; her parents; and five grandchildren, Kevin Carver, Krista Carver, Michael Ray Carver, Lane Baker and Sean Carver. The family suggests memorials be to Dalhart Animal Shelter in care of Diane Trull, 1302 Conlen St., Dalhart, TX 79022; or Safe Place in care of the funeral home, 701 Elm Ave., Dalhart, TX 79022. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Petra Lopez HEREFORD - Petra Lopez, 63, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 in Littlefield, TX. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Parkside Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Monday at San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford with Monsignor Arturo Meza officiating. Burial will follow at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Hereford. Mrs. Lopez was born April 29, 1940, in Matehuala, Mexico, the daughter of Reyes and Martina Oliva. She married Luis Lopez on Dec. 28, 1957, in Mexico. Mrs. Lopez was a homemaker and a member of San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Herman Lopez and Claudio Lopez, both of Hereford and Luis Lopez Jr. of Las Cruces, N.M.; two daughters, Severiana Dixon of Albuquerque and Elvira Conner of Littlefield; three brothers, Panfilo Oliva, Juan Oliva and Jesus Oliva, all of Mexico, two sisters, Cecilia Oliva of Houston and Lupe Pina of Amarillo; and 11 grandchildren. The family request memorials to San Jose Catholic Church, 709 Brevard St., Hereford, TX 79045. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Elsewhere Walter Willmon ODESSA - Walter Willmon, 93, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. in Odessa. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Tanglewood Church of Christ in Odessa. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Afton Cemetery in Afton. Arrangements are by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Mr. Willmon was born Jan. 23, 1910, to John B. & Emma Willmon in Callahan County. He was a retired plant operator from Phillips Petroleum. He married Almer Pyle on Nov. 26, 1988, in Fritch. He was a member of Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Alice V. Willmon in 1984; his father, John Willmon in 1940; his mother, Emma L. Willmon in 1934; a son, James B. Willmon; three brothers, Pinkney, John and Raymond Willmon; and four sisters, Catherine, Celeta, Florence, and Emma Lois. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Frank L. Willmon and wife, Linda, of Amarillo, Fred W. Willmon and wife, Sarah, of Aztec, NM, and William "Bill" H. Willmon and wife, Mary, of Redding, Calif.; a daughter, Lola Brownlee of Amarillo; a step-son, Joe Don Baker and wife, Loretta, of Odessa; a brother, Clarence Willmon of Gruver; 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Walter Ruffus Bingham BROWNWOOD - Walter Ruffus Bingham, 88, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Steve McMeans officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mr. Bingham was born Aug. 11, 1915, in Brown County. He was a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. He had lived in Brownwood for four years. He was a truck driver in the oil fields. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Bingham, two sisters and three brothers. Survivors include two sons, Dr. Walter W. Bingham of Malakoff and Jim Bingham of Grapevine; three grandchildren, Kym Phillips, Blake Bingham and Jerri Lane; eight great-grandchildren; and two brothers, William Preston Bingham of Amarillo and John Henry of Stennett. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 D. Ross Dunham SAN ANTONIO - D. Ross Dunham, 75, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine, Fla. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Porter Loring Mortuary North. Mr. Dunham was born William David Ross Dunham in St. Augustine on Feb. 15, 1928, to the late David Ross and Georgia Springer Dunham. Ross grew up along the marshes and beaches of the Northeast Florida coast in familiar small town surroundings. He graduated high school from Sewanee Military Academy in 1945. Ross attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, was a member of the Pi Tau Sigma (Epsilon Chapter), and graduated in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He began work for Mason and Hanger-Silas Mason Co. Inc., where he worked with various divisions for 45 years beginning as a draftsman in Burlington, Iowa, in 1949. He transferred to the Pantex Plant in Amarillo in 1957, where he served as plant manager from 1975 to 1980, and subsequently to Mason and Hanger's corporate offices in Lexington, Ky., where he retired as senior vice president in 1994. He received the 1978 Outstanding Engineer Recognition Award from the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and he was chairman of the Amarillo chapter of United Way from 1975 to 1979. He was recognized by American Defense Preparedness Association for Distinguished Service as Executive Board Chairman Ammunition and Technology Division, April 1981 through February 1991. He received the Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command Certificate of Commendation on April 20, 1991. He was inducted as a member of The Old Guard of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association on Oct. 15, 1999. Ross and his wife, Peggy, were able to enjoy several years of retirement together traveling and sharing their time fishing and golfing in both their Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, and Gunnison, Colo., homes prior to his death. An avid outdoor sportsman, Ross will always be remembered for his love, honesty, sincerity and generosity to numerous charities, family and friends. Ross and Peggy were baptized, confirmed and married at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine. Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Dorothy Olson and Evelyn Stauber, both of St. Augustine; a daughter, Amy Cissell of Richardson; two sons, David Dunham of Haltom City, and Kirk Dunham of Seabrook; seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., Alamo Area Parkinson Support Group, 5368 Fredericksburg Rd., Suite 200, San Antonio, TX, 78265; or to the charity of choice supporting scholarship and education. Sign our online guest book at www.porterloring.com. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Randy Brian Edmondson FAIRVIEW - Randy Brian Edmondson, 51, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Christ Church Episcopal, with the Rev. Jeff Rawn officiating. Burial will follow at Plano Mutual Cemetery. Mr. Edmondson was born Jan. 21, 1952, in Sweetwater. He was a computer analyst and manager who worked for IHS Energy for 23 years. He loved his profession and his goal was to understand all things mechanical. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He will be dearly missed by his loving family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, James Edmondson. Survivors include his wife, Patti Edmondson; his children, David, T.J. and Cassie Edmondson; his mother, Faye Edmondson; his father, Charles Dowlearn; three brothers, Terry and Scot Edmondson and Ken Dowlearn; four nephews, Jared, Jeremy, Brooks and Chase; two nieces, Sara and Nicki; and his in-laws, the Samuels family in Fairview and Amarillo. Visitation will be held at Ted Dickey Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Memorials may be made to the Journey of Hope Foundation or C-I-T-Y House. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 J.K. "Jake" Wilhelm HAMILTON - J.K. "Jake" Wilhelm, 84, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday in Riley Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in White Point Cemetery in Comanche County. Survivors include his wife, Lillian; two daughters, Marjorie Doyle of Landenburg, Pa., and Marguerite Humphrey of Seattle; three grandsons; three stepgrandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a brother, Wayne Wilhelm of Comanche. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Amarillo Ruth Current Ruth Current, 83, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, 315 E. Fifth Ave., with Max Pratt and Gene Shelburne, of Anna Street Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Current was born in Santa Anna. She was a leader in the community and valedictorian of her high school. Following graduation, she worked as a PBX operator with the local phone company and attended business school. Before World War II, she met D.K. "Chick" Current of Des Moines, Iowa, who was a soldier at Fort Hood. They married March 24, 1942. The family moved to Amarillo in 1950 following Chick's graduation from Texas Tech. Ruth devoted herself to her family and Church of Christ. She was a volunteer for many service organizations. She was elected to serve as the president for the St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary. She was instrumental in establishing the first gift and coffee shop at St. Anthony's. Her involvement in the Mended Hearts was a direct result from her open heart surgery. She joined the association after her surgery and served as its southwest regional director. Survivors indclude her husband; a son, David K. Current and wife, Gayline, of Amarillo; a daugther, Ruth Anne Teague and husband, Bill, of Amarillo; two sisters, Jennie B. DeShaw and Maxine Pratt, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Audie Conley of Amarillo and Billie Ray Conley of Gilmer; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Ray L. Graham Ray L. Graham, 77, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Dr. Charles G. Jones, pastor of Second Baptist Church, will officiate. Mr. Graham was born to James T. and Harriet Graham on March 16, 1926, in Canyon. He graduated from Clarendon High School in 1943. He served in the Texas State Guard in 1943 and 1944. He was a member of Second Baptist Church. He married Norma Jean Richardson on Nov. 9, 1946, and they resided in Amarillo. He worked as a salesman and retired from Jewel Home Shopping Service in 1985. He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He enjoyed participating in the activities of his children. He assisted with the Boy Scouts when his sons were active. He accompanied their troops to Philmont Scout Ranch and climbed the "Tooth of Time." He also accompanied them on some of the Kwahadi Indian Dancers trips. He was a member of the geneology society and enjoyed working on his geneology until he became too ill to do so. He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Jean Reynolds; and a brother, James T. Graham Jr. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Jimmy L. Graham and wife, Linda, Jeffery M. Graham and wife, Debbie, Jay Graham, Jerry Graham and wife, Brenda, all of Amarillo; a daughter, Jeanette DuBois and husband, Joe, of Mustang, Okla.; six grandchildren, Jennifer Duck and husband, Brian, Jeff Cox, Scott Graham, Kay Graham, Ian Graham and Tyler Chattin; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX, 79176; or Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79105. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Marie Ward Thomas Marie Ward Thomas, 94, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Jim Bankhead officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Thomas was born in Muskogee, Okla. on Sept. 12, 1909. She was valedictorian of her high school graduating class in Vinita, Okla., and was awarded a college scholarship in San Antonio. She lived in Amarillo since 1929 and was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She was an avid reader, devoted wife and mother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip E. Thomas in March of 2002. They celebrated 72 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Carl Kenneth and Evelyn Ward, a brother and a sister. Survivors include a daughter, Jean Neely and husband, Dan, of Amarillo; a son, Philip E. Thomas Jr. and wife, Shirley, of Austin; three grandchildren, Evelyn Neely Husband of Houston, Matthew Owen Thomas and wife, Nancy, of Murphy, and Timothy Ward Thomas of Killeen; three great-grandchildren, Laura Marie and Matthew Douglas Husband of Houston and Joshua Philip Thomas of Killeen. The family suggests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, 1100 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 George Marvin Baker George Marvin Baker, 84, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in St. Paul United Methodist Church. Mr. Baker was born in Bellevue and moved to Amarillo as a child. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1936, attended Amarillo College and graduated from Texas Tech University. He served as a pilot and instructor in the Navy during World War II. He married Evelyn Shelby in Amarillo in 1946. He was a safety engineer before retiring in 1984. He was a charter member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and a hospice volunteer for 18 years. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Debbie Oliver and husband, Tom, and Pat Cline and husband, Gordon, all of Amarillo; a son, Mike Baker of Amarillo; two grandchildren, Matt Cline and wife, Sarah, of Amarillo, and Shelby Cline of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to St. Paul United Methodist Church Mission Fund, 4317 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106; BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176; or Olivia's Angels. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 A.T. Bryant A.T. Bryant, 91, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Paramount Baptist Church with F.M. Byford, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Bryant was born in Gorman. He married Edna Straughan in 1939 in Big Spring. He moved to Amarillo in 1959 from Dalhart, where he had served as music and education director at First Baptist Church of Dalhart. After moving to Amarillo, he was the music and education director at Avondale Baptist Church for three years. After retiring in 1964, he worked as a deliveryman for Rattan Cleaners. Mr. Bryant was a member of Paramount Baptist Church, having served as the director of the Senior Adult Sunday School Department for 23 years. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nancy Pamplin of Lawton, Okla.; a son, Wayne Bryant of Amarillo; a brother, Weldon Bryant of Big Spring; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79102, or the Addie Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Paramount Baptist Church, 3801 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Sign our online guest register at www.rectorfuneralhome.com. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Wayland Trent Wayland Trent, 64, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Carey Baptist Church with the Rev. J. Alan Ford of Southwest Baptist Church of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Mr. Trent was a pilot. He graduated from Carey schools in 1957. He worked for Homer Compton at the Texas Air Service. He owned and operated Trent Flying Service until his retirement in 2001. He was a crop duster for 38 years. He was a member of the Commemorative Air Force and Buffalo R-C Flying Club. Survivors include his wife, Linda S. Trent, of Amarillo; his mother, Edith Trent of Childress; his son, Wendell L. Trent of Amarillo; two sisters, Linda Gail of Fort Worth and Glenda Hernandez of Childress; and a special granddaughter, Berkley Robertson of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Oklahoma Dovie Lee Terry Henry BOISE CITY - Dovie Lee Terry Henry, 99, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the grandchildren and Brian Long officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mrs. Henry married Ed Terry in November of 1921 and had six children of that union. She married Jack Henry in 1956. Survivors include two sons, Charles Terry of Zion, Ill. and Bill Terry of Boise City; 20 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a host of other friends and relatives. The family suggests memorials be to Cimarron Nursing Home Landscaping Project in care of the mortuary. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 New Mexico Blake D. Rundell CLOVIS - Blake D. Rundell, 26, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, near Farwell. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of Bovina with the Rev. Aaron Reed, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Rundell was born Nov. 4, 1976, in Hereford. He was a 1995 graduate of Clovis High School. He married Molly Muennink on March 11, 2000 in Hondo. They moved to Clovis last year from Kansas. He was a spray pilot for Tate Spraying Service in Clovis. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Bovina and taught the junior high and high school Sunday school classes. He was serving the church as interim youth director. Survivors include his wife; his father, Kim Rundell, and wife, Kathy, of Nazareth; his mother, Nancy Ormon and husband, Tommy, of Keller; two sisters, Kami Rundell of Nazareth and Chelsea Ormon of Keller; two brothers, Scott Rundell of Lubbock, and Charlie Rundell of Nazareth; his grandmothers, Alta Hutto of Clovis and Nadine Paine of Lubbock; grandparents, Rex and Dorothy Ormon of Clovis and Tommy and Kay Williams of Bovina; and his great-grandmother, Julia Leake of Friona. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Bovina. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 14, 2003 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/091403/obi_allobits.shtml © The Amarillo Globe-News Online