2007 Obituaries
LCDR Everett Roy Buck, Sr., USN (Ret) W4RRX
Born in Jefferson Barracks, MO on May 9, 1921
Died Jul. 20, 2007 and resided in San Antonio, TX.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 11 AM
At San Pedro Presbyterian Church
14900 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78232
210-494-6560
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary North
www.porterloring.com
Lieutenant Commander (Retired, U.S. Navy) Everett Roy Buck, Sr., 86, died at home on Friday, July 20, 2007.
He is survived by his wife Frances Lee (Archer) Buck and his children: daughter Katherine, son Everett “Rhett” Buck, Jr. and his wife Barbara, daughter Francie Holbach and her husband Jim Holbach, and daughter Marilyn Koch and her husband John Koch. He is survived by six grandchildren: James Everett Holbach, Alison Holbach, Susan (Mrs. Eric) Hawthorne, Juliette Buck, Shelly Koch, and Todd Koch; and one great-grandchild, Lauren DeLeon.
Everett Buck was the son of Captain (Retired, U.S. Army) and Mrs. William E. Buck, both deceased. His mother, Alice Cecilia (Burkhart) Buck was an active member of Mission San José during her lifetime. Everett was born on May 9, 1921 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and moved to San Antonio at the age of seven.
He graduated from Harlandale High School before joining the Navy in 1939. He was a “mustang” who began his Navy career as an enlisted man and retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1969. As one of the “The Greatest Generation”, he fought at the Battle of Midway in World War II.
All his adult life, Everett was a golfer and an amateur radio operator (HAM). In his later life, he was a member of the Battle of Midway Roundtable and was active with the Alamo Area Radio Organization, Inc. His activity with the local 7290 Traffic network continued until his death.
Billy D. Parten W5OMC
Died August 26, 2007
Funeral: 1:30 PM Wednesday August 29, 2007
In the Greenwood Chapel
3100 White Settlement Road
Ft. Worth, Texas 76107
Parten, Billy D. Billy D. Parten, 85, passed away Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Bill retired from the Fort Worth Police Department in 1978 and Bank of America in 1988. He was a member of North Pointe Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge 942 and was an Amateur Radio Operator.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Opal, Ruth and Johnnie; wife of 42 years, Margaret; and infant daughter, Judy Ann Parten. Survivors: Wife of 23 years, Lou Parten; daughter, Sue Kramer; granddaughter, Daphne Hill and husband, Jeff; grandson, James McGirt; six great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and stepchildren and their families, Linda Green, Nancy Burney and husband, Frank, and Andy Nabors.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 8/28/2007
Ed Stillings W5JHV
Edwin C. Stillings, 90, went to be with his Lord on Monday Oct. 7, 2007.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Friday in Biggers Funeral Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Visitation: Friends may call Thursday until 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials: Midway Church of Christ Building Fund, 6400 Midway Road, Springtown, Texas 76082.
Mr. Stillings, an area resident for 64 years, worked for Swift & Co. for 27 years prior to his retirement in 1972. He was a lay minister in the Church of Christ and over the years served several area congregations.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel, on July 24, 1998. An avid ham radio operator, Mr. Stillings was known to many as W5JHV, "Jumpin' High Votage."
Survivors: His daughters, Janice Marie Webb and Audrey Gene Hickman; brother, Earl R. Stillings; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 10/10/2007.
MSG. (Retired) Franklin J. "Frank" Phillips AB5J
April 11, 1933 - December 6, 2007
Age 74, Lawton - Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Monday in Lawton Heights United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles King, Pastor officiating. Sergeant Phillips died Thursday at his home.
Burial with full military honors will be at PostCemetery, FortSill, under the direction of Becker Funeral Home.
He was born April 11, 1933 in Hindsville, Arkansas to Nile and Rachel Ellen (Roberts) Phillips. He attended school in Berkshed, Arkansas and in Springdale, Arkansas.
He worked at Hillcrest hospital in Tulsa before entering the Army. On March 10, 1956, he married Jeanie Maples in Huntsville, Arkansas.
He enlisted in the US Army in March of 1953, and retired in March of 1976. While in the service, he served two tours of duty in Germany, one tour in Korea, two tours in Vietnam, three years in Fairbanks, Alaska and all of his stateside duty at FortSill. He earned the following medals and awards, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Unit Citation with palm, Army Commendation medal with fourth oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with first oak leaf cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal with 60 device, Bronze Star medal with first oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Four Overseas service bars, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal with sixth award, Meritorious Service Medal with second award and the Meritorious Service Medal with second oak leaf cluster. After his retirement from the Army, he worked Civil Service in D.O.L. and Housing, and retired from Civil Service in 1995.
He was active in the Lawton Amateur Radio Club, has served as President and was active with setting up communications station at the local Salvation Army to help with communications during disasters. He was a member of LawtonHeightsUnitedMethodistChurch. *73 signing off – Amateur Radio Station, AB5J, is a silent key. include his wife of the home, 3 children, Frank Phillips of McAlester, OK, Sherrie Kelch and husband Willie of OKC, OK, Terry Phillips and wife B.B. of Keller, TX, his brother, Cecil Phillips of Springdale, AR, sister, Mildred Roberts of Springdale, AR, four grandchildren, Zachary, Rachel, Caitlyn and Austin. He is also survived by a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joyce and Doug Bailey of Siloam Springs, AR and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Gene, Gaylon, Earl, JR, and infant brother Scottie, and also a sister Virgie.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Memorial Fund, LawtonHeightsUnitedMethodistChurch at PO Box 2876, Lawton, OK73502 or to Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma at PO Box 2074, Lawton, OK73502.
Funeral
Was held Monday, December 10, 2007 , 10:00 AM at Lawton Heights United Methodist Church.
Homer Eugene Franks AC5CI
Born in Ridge, Texas on Aug. 26, 1935
Departed on Mar. 17, 2007 and resided in Caldwell, TX.
Services: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Homer Eugene Franks, 71, of Caldwell, died Saturday, March 17, 2007 at his residence. Mr. Franks was born August 26, 1935 in Ridge, Texas the son of Homer Elbert and Floral Murlean Gray Franks. Homer was a graduate of A & M Consolidated High School and attended Texas A & M University, where he was a member of the Corp. of Cadets. He was retired from the Houston Fire Department and was a Master Carpenter, Ham Radio operator, enjoyed fishing and loved to play music with the local bands. Mr. Franks was a past Master Mason, Scottish Rite, of Caldwell Masonic Lodge #56. His family described him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
On January 2, 1956 he was married to the former Emma Jean Pennington in Hugo, Oklahoma.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Jean Franks, three sons and a daughter-in-law: Homer (Bimbo) Jr., James Alan (Frog), and James Robert (Bobby) and wife Dianne, three daughters and sons-in-law: Teresa (Ressie) and Grady Warner, Nancy (PeeWee) and Ronald Sebesta and Paige (Pumpkin) and Phil Bamberg. He is further survived by his brother James Lee Carter and wife Pamela, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild as well as numerous other relatives.
The funeral service will be Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell with the Rev. Rick Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Caldwell.
Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 19, 2007 at the funeral home with the family present from 6"00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The family has requested that Memorials be given to the Calvary Baptist Church, Caldwell, Texas.
Serving as pallbearers will be; Cody Yenger, Ethan Sebesta, Jarrod Franks, Joshua Franks, Tommy Novosad and James Beaty. Honorary pallbearers are Alec and Aidan Bamberg.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home, 530 Hwy. 36 South, Caldwell, Texas 77836.
William Dean Davis W5BGE
Born in Shrevport, LA. on Aug. 31, 1913
Departed on May 25, 2007 and resided in San Antonio, TX. Service: Saturday, Jun. 16, 2007
Dean was born August 31, 1913 in Shreveport, Louisiana and passed away at age 93 on May 25, 2007 at Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Texas. He grew up in Dallas where he had a paper route from age 10. He attended Forest Avenue High School where he was in the Leaders Club and won a state Latin contest.
He was interested in radio from an early age and after high school, moved to Beaumont to attend radio school. Upon graduation during the depression, he was unable to find work in the field, but earned 50 cents a week to sleep in a fire station and hang his radio operator’s license on the wall. He supplemented his income by repairing radios door-to-door. He continued to fix radios and TVs for friends throughout his life.
He eventually found work in the newspaper industry as a printer and worked in numerous cities throughout the South and Midwest to earn journeyman status.
Dean met his wife, Maybelle Lowry, in Beaumont and married on February 10, 1940. They had two sons there before moving to San Antonio in 1948 for a job at the San Antonio Light newspaper. There he worked in the composing room for nearly 30 years, much of that time setting up the front page and main section of the paper. Early in his career he trained on a new Linotype machine and retired just as computers were taking over the printing department.
He maintained his interest in radios all his life as an amateur (Ham) radio operator, W5BGE. In early years he sought contacts around the world. More recently, he participated in communication nets and talked almost every day with friends across Texas. He managed to put his experience to work during WW II installing radios on ships in Port Arthur. He was active in maintaining readiness for emergency communications and was recently recognized for 75 years of participation by the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
Dean enjoyed camping and Scouting with his sons and served as a scout leader with Troup 46 at Los Angeles Heights Methodist Church. He was a Counselor for Merit Badges in Radio and Printing.
After retiring, he and Maybelle spent 18 years making friends with other RVers around the country, often combining camping trips with amateur radio conventions. He had a ready smile and had met everyone in the RV park before dinnertime. Trips to California and Branson were inspired by their love of dancing to big band music. RV trips often included fishing as well, a lifelong pleasure of Maybelle.
Dean had been a member of Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church since 1948. He served as Deacon and Elder, and again applied his experience to help with recording and amplification equipment. He was a Mason for over 50 years with the Blue Bonnet Lodge and was also a member of the Alzafar Shriners.
He was preceded in death by his parents Buford and Elma Jones Davis and his sister Ruby Davis Tillery and his beloved wife Maybelle. He is survived by his sons Dean Lowry Davis and Dale Malcolm Davis and wife Marlyn; his much adored grandchildren, Christopher Wendel Davis, Lissa Lowry Davis and her husband Rusty Tchernis. He is also survived by nieces Marion Moses and husband Jerry, Jean Rambo and husband Bill and nephew Robert Lowry.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kimberly Heller and her staff at Jefferson Family Practice for many years of loving care for both Dean and Maybelle. In addition we would like to thank Dr. Yvonne Haug, the staffs at Knopp Assisted Living Center, Knopp Nursing Home, and Hill Country Memorial Hospital for their exceptionally kind care during recent months.
Memorial services will be held at Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, 1100 Woodlawn Ave. on Saturday, June 16, at 2:30 PM with a reception to follow at the church. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice, the American Heart Association or Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church.
John Douglas Leitch WA5VUX
Doug Leitch was born September 16, 1918 in Mount Airy, NC and passed away on June 30, 2007.
In 1943, he married his childhood sweetheart, Nora Binder Leitch. Mr. Leitch served in the U.S. Army in World War II and received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1948. He moved to Beaumont in 1949 where he began his career with Mobil Oil at the Beaumont refinery.
Mr. Leitch was a registered professional engineer in Texas. Mr. Leitch was an active member of Calder Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Boy Scout Master. He was president of Do-Si-Do Club in the early 1950's. Mr. Leitch served in every elective office of the Sabine Section of ASME, was president of the Gulf Coast Engineering and Scientific Society, was active in the Scottish Society, and the Amateur Radio Club (WA5VUX). In 1979 he was selected by the Sabine Section of ASME as Engineer of the Year.
Mr. Leitch was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Nora Binder Leitch and his parents John and Mary Bette Davis Leitch, his three brothers and his sister. He is survived by his son, Dr. J. Douglas Leitch, Jr. and his wife Ranelle of Hunt, Texas; his daughter Mary Ann Henry of Lone Tree, CO; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Mardesen and her husband Troy of Centennial, CO and Caroline Henry of Lone Tree; and two great grandchildren, Cullen and Meredith Mardesen. Mr. Leitch is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were at Calder Baptist Church on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. James R. Fuller officiating. Interment followed at Haven of Rest Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Mr. Mark Henderson, Dr. Gene Wright, Mr. Bud Leonard, Mr. Mac Fulbright, Dr. Fred Turner, Mr. Ronnie Platt, and Mr. Mike Baker. Honorary pallbearers are Mr. Jim Goodson and Mr. Dan Hallmark.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Appel ALS Clinic, 6560 Fannin, Suite 802, Houston, TX 77030 or Calder Baptist Church Building Fund. 1155 N. 11th Street Beaumont, TX 77702 (409)892-3456 claybarfuneralhome.com
Albert Lee "Al" Long – N5AL
Born on Saturday, November 17, 1928, in Nacogdoches, Texas, Al was living in Dallas when he passed into God's heavenly kingdom on Saturday, November 3, 2007, after a prolonged illness.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Arthur Lee Long and Mabel Wilson Long, and his loving wife of 59 years, Rose Mary Crawford Long. He is survived by his daughter Mary Long Davis and her husband Weldon Davis of Dallas, his daughter Lila Long Pond and her husband Paul Pond of Dallas, his son Tony Long and his wife Sharon of Dallas, his son Lee Long and his wife Charlotte of Fort Worth, fifteen grandchildren and their spouses, fifteen great grandchildren,his niece Shirley Ann Holloway and her husband Tom of Houston, and his cousin Virginia Hannah of Marshall.
In 2004, Al and Rose Mary moved from Groves to Dallas to be near their children. A professional musician and music educator, Al gave his life to nurturing children in his positions as a school band director and school principal for 52 years, serving as band director at Groves Junior High School from 1951 - 1961, band director at Port Neches-Groves High School from1961-1981, band director at Aztec New Mexico High School from 1982-1985, and band director and principal at Cathedral in the Pines Christian School in Beaumont from 1985-2000. In addition to teaching and directing the musical interests of students, Al was an avid musician throughout his life, playing both the trumpet and french horn in church orchestras, symphonic orchestras and jazz ensembles in East Texas and Southeast Texas; and, Al continued in this venue when he moved to Dallas, by becoming an active member of the New Horizons Concert Band and Upswing, New Horizon's Stage Band, and by becoming a member of the brass section of the orchestra at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
Always active in his church, Al was a member of First Presbyterian Church of DallasTexas at the time of his death. Al was a past member of First Methodist Church of Nacogdoches, First Methodist Church of Groves and Cathedral in the Pines in Beaumont. As a music educator, Al always expected the best of himself and his students, resulting in innumerous State level competition sweepstakes and first division awards fo rhis bands and individual band members. Al held lifetime Texas Education Agency Certificates in all levels for Music, Secondary Math, Superintendent, Principal and Supervisor. Al was a Charter member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, a lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, a member of Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity and a 32nd degree, 50 year member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Groves Lodge No. 1315, Groves, Texas. In earlier years, Al attained the rank of Master Sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard.
A kind and gentle man, passionate about his vocation and avocations, low-key and laid-back in all other things, God fearing and God loving, Al…, Dad to his children, Poppa to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and Uncle Albertto many, many ex students, will be loved, missed and remembered by all. Lookout Gabriel, you now have competition for first chair on that horn!
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 9, 2007, at Levingston Funeral Home, 5601 39th Street, Groves, Texas. Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 10, 2007, at First United Methodist Church of Groves, 6501 Washington, Groves, Texas, with interment following at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves. In celebration of Al's life,donations may be made to First Methodist Church of Groves or Cathedral in the Pines ChristianCenter, in Beaumont,in honor of Al Long.
Thanks to W5HX and the QCWA for this obituary