Today's Obituaries (December 29, 1998)

Ruby Mable Schooler

Ruby Mable Schooler, 81, of Tye died Monday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. H.B. Terry Jr. officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Medlan Chapel Cemetery near Graham.

Mrs. Schooler was born and attended school in Eliasville. She moved to Tye from Abilene in 1979. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was the widow of Weston L. Townsend and W.F. "Felton" Schooler.

Survivors include one son, Albert Irvin Townsend of Abilene; one brother, James Welton Martin of Midland; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Helen Farris

Mary Helen Farris, 84, of Abilene died Monday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South, with the Rev. Steve Lyons officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Farris was born in Hunt County and attended school in Commerce and Fort Worth. She graduated from Fort Worth High School in 1932 and moved from Fort Worth to Abilene in 1942. She was an underwriter for W. Willis Cox Insurance Agency for 17 years. She was a homemaker and a member of University Baptist Church. She married Maldon Floyd Farris in 1933 in Marietta, Okla., he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, James R. Farris of Abilene; and three grandchildren.

The family will be at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today.

Miriam Jane Rutledge

Miriam Jane Rutledge, 76, of Abilene died Wednesday at a local hospital.

The body was cremated, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. No services are planned.

Mrs. Rutledge was born in Naporville, Ill., and graduated from West Texas State University with a bachelor's degree and from Hardin-Simmons University with a master's degree in business. She moved to Abilene from Butte, Mont., in 1951 and worked for KRBC for a number of years. She worked for Headstart in Sweetwater and was director for four counties. She worked for the Texas Employment Commission as a counselor and as director of The Bridge. She married Johnny D. Rutledge Sr. in 1953; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, J.D. Rutledge Jr. of Houston; one daughter, Linda Rutledge of Abilene; one sister, Elizabeth Bolten of Thomasville, Ga.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Col. (ret) Alvin Willard Banner

SAN ANTONIO -- Col. (ret) Alvin Willard Banner, 78, died Saturday.

Memorial services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at High Flight Chapel at Air Force Village II. Graveside services will be at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday in Sam Houston National Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Thompson officiating, directed by Porter Loring Mortuary.

Mr. Banner was born in Pflugerville and grew up in Granger. He was a command pilot in the Air Force, from which he retired in 1972 after 33 years. He was a life member of National Order of Daedalians and Stinsons Flight, a national fraternity of military pilots. He was a life member and national director of Mens Garden Clubs of America since 1976. He was the widow of Mickey Banner.

Survivors include one daughter, Andra Judyne "Dru" Cory of Abilene; two sisters, Katherine Bichsel of San Antonio and Jeanette Disdier of Yuma, Ariz.; one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.

Ina Leona Dees

Ina Leona Dees, 89, of Abilene died Saturday at an Abilene care center.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Home Chapel in Weatherford with the Rev. Houston Hook officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens in Weatherford.

Mrs. Dees was born in Elgin, Okla., and lived in Parker County for many years before moving to Abilene. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors include one daughter, Claudette Carroll of Abilene; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Edna 'Granny' Finch

MERKEL -- Edna "Granny" Finch, 97, of Abilene died Sunday in Abilene.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with the Revs. Kenneth Jones and Jimmy Griffith officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mrs. Finch was born in Sipe Springs and lived in the Merkel area all her life. She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for more than 60 years. She was a farmer and a homemaker. She married Homer Finch in 1920 in Roby; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include four daughters, Myrle Van Matre of Breckenridge, Lois Malone of Seagoville, Evelyn Cunningham of Abilene and Billie Bradley of Jacksboro; four sisters, Mildred Callahan of Pleasant Grove, Gussie Robertson of Roby, Urma Schick of Rotan and Dale Smith of Dallas; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 399, 301 Locust, Merkel 79536.

W.C. 'Tubb' Harlow

COLORADO CITY -- W.C. "Tubb" Harlow, 83, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Kiker-Seale Funeral Home Chapel with Kerry Cain officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery.

Mr. Harlow was born in Cross Plains and had lived in Mitchell County for 54 years, working on the Thompson Ranch. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of 22nd and Austin Streets Church of Christ. He married Mattie Beatrice Daniel in 1944 in Colorado City.

Survivors include his wife, of Colorado City; one son, Billy Harlow of San Antonio; one daughter, Sharon Gillenwater of Seattle, Wash.; one brother, Bruce Harlow of Bella Vista, Ark.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Curtis Dawson

RANGER -- Curtis A. Dawson, 87, died Sunday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Mesquite and Rusk Church of Christ with Ken Evans officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Mr. Dawson was born in Bell County and grew up mostly around Mount Pleasant. He worked for Fort Wolters Fire Department and was a World War II veteran of the Navy Seabees. He worked for Lone Star Gas in Breckenridge, moved to Ranger in 1952 and retired in 1972. After retirement he worked for Ranger Featherlite Corporation and Dr. Watkins. He was a shower and seller of horses and a member of Mesquite and Rusk Street Church of Christ. He married Alice Thelma Taylor in 1940 in Albany.

Survivors include his wife, of Ranger; two children, Gene Schevene of Yuma, Ariz., and Barbara Wesley of Ranger; two grandsons and one great-grandson.

Thurman 'Ray' Kirk

BROWNWOOD -- Thurman "Ray" Kirk, 58, of Trickham died Sunday in Brown County.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Trickham Cemetery.

Mr. Kirk was born in Tupelo, Miss., and had lived in Brown County since 1974. He was a non-denominational minister. He married Joyce Robertson in 1959 in Clarendon, Ark.

Survivors include his wife, of Trickham; two sons, Greg Kirk of Bangs and Tim Kirk of Brownwood; one daughter, Tona Holland of Trickham; his mother, Lucille Kirk Midgett of Des Arc, Ark.; two sisters, Diane Kirk of Shreveport, La., and Becky Tallent of Des Arc; five brothers, Homer Kirk of Corinth, Miss., Gary Kirk of Benton, Ark., Harold Kirk of Des Arc, Cletus Kirk of Searcy, Ark., and Danny Kirk of Judsonia, Ark.; and three grandchildren.

Opal Philen Lobstein

BROWNWOOD -- Opal Philen Lobstein, 89, of Fort Worth died Monday in Fort Worth.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Weathers officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mrs. Lobstein was born in Goldthwaite and lived in Brownwood before moving to Fort Worth in 1978. She taught school for three years and won several golf championships in Brownwood. She was a homemaker. She married Dr. Henry Lobstein in 1931; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, Dr. Phil Lobstein of Fort Worth; and four grandchildren.

Viola Katherine Perdue Hinds

BAIRD -- Viola Katherine Perdue Hinds, 84, died Sunday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ricky Carstensen officiating. Burial will be in Ross Cemetery.

Mrs. Hinds was born near Cisco and moved to Baird in 1936. She was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist church and Order of Eastern Star, where she was Worthy Matron. She was Noble Grand with Rebekah Lodge. She married Edwin Gilbert Hinds in 1936 near Cisco; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Baird Fire Department or the Baird Association.

SAN ANGELO -- Adele L. Nawarskas, 83, 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral; burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, directed by Johnson's Funeral Home.

BROWNWOOD -- Pete Boyett, 77, 2 p.m. at Lake Brownwood First United Methodist Church; burial in Rocky Creek Cemetery, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Jack Clark (Ora) Perry, 95, 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church; burial in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Opal Welch Tally, 88, 10:30 a.m. at North's Memorial Chapel, 4002 Buffalo Gap Road; burial in Buffalo Gap Cemetery in Buffalo Gap.

BEDFORD -- Marion "Lu" Ballard Spurlock, 71, 2 p.m. at Euless First Methodist Church.

GOLDTHWAITE -- Z.C. "Cotton" Barton, 82, 2 p.m. in Oakview Cemetery in Mullin, directed by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home.

PADUCAH -- Leon V. Parsons, 70, 2 p.m. at Haskell First Assembly of God, directed by Seigler Funeral Home.

MIDLAND -- Sally Aretta Hollowell, 92, 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church Glass Chapel. Graveside services 3 p.m. in Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene, directed by Ellis Funeral Home.

STEPHENVILLE -- Patricia "Pat" Ann Kinney Jones, 53, 1 p.m. at Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel.

DUBLIN -- Nina Marie Crocker, 90, 11 a.m. in Upper Greens Creek Cemetery near Dublin, directed by Harrell Funeral Home.