Tildon Arnold
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel
Tildon Arnold, 84, of Arch community, died Sunday, March 5, 2006, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.
He was born June 15, 1921, in Alamo to Diana Lorraine and Robert Jerome Arnold.
He worked on ranches around Santa Rosa for several years. He moved to Arch to find work in 1940.
He married Imogene Riley on Feb. 14, 1942, in Portales.
He was inducted into the Army in November 1942, and served in the Pacific as a medic until his discharge in 1945.
He moved to Arch in 1948 and had made his home there ever since.
For several years, he ran a garage and welding shop.
In about 1964, he established the Arnold Feed Store.
Since 1971 he had farmed and ranched. He looked after his cattle as long as his health would permit.
He was a member of the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.
Family said he enjoyed fishing and hunting and restoring vehicles.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Glen and Warren Arnold, and by his mother and father-in-law, Ima and Scott Riley.
He is survived by his wife and a host of nieces and nephews.
Peter Dahlstrom will officiate services.
Burial will take place at Portales Cemetery.
Cliff, Billy Jr. and Matt Neece, Jim Wilhoit, Mark Gormley and Doug Crozier will serve as pallbearers.
Jerry Stokes, Bob Stokes, Paul Berry, Billy Neece Sr., E.B. Wilhoit, Buck Partin, James Riley, Berry Wilhoit, Wayne Williams and Scott Riley will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary.
Gladys Alverna Wood
Services: 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church in Portales.
Gladys Alverna Wood, 101, of Portales, died Sunday, March 5, 2006, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.
She was born Aug. 14, 1904, on a farm near Abilene, Kan., to Samuel Aaron and Laura Ellen Kopenhaver Romberger.
She graduated from Abilene High School in 1924.
She enjoyed playing the piano, singing and participating in activities at Emmanuel Evangelical Church.
She worked as a secretary for the Wyant Insurance Agency and later for the Midwest Mill in Abilene.
She married Charles James (Jim) Wood on Aug. 14, 1925, in Topeka, Kan.
She worked as a secretary for the Dickinson County Farm Bureau from 1951 until she retired in 1966.
She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron.
She was active in the VFW and World War I auxiliary.
She was an active member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Abilene.
She moved to Heartland Continuing Care Center in 2001.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Harry, Herb, Will, Wes and Luther Romberger; three sisters, Hattie Cavender, Gertie McCoy and Ether Staehli (and husband, Jim); and a daughter, Bonnie Lou Wood, who died in 1988.
She is survived by a son Bill Wood (Ruth) of Portales; three grandchildren, Julie Wood of San Jose, Calif., Chris Wood (Tammy) of Portales and Carol Sandoval (Vince) of Albuquerque; six great-grandchildren, Amanda, Ryan and Taryn Wood, Janay Summers and Andrew and Patrick Sandoval.
The Rev. Harry Riser will officiate services.
A service will also be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Danner Funeral Home in Abilene, Kan.
Burial will be at Abilene Cemetery in Abilene, Kan.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church in Portales.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
Jesus Venegas
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Portales Cemetery.
Jesus Venegas, 85, of Clovis died Saturday, March 4, 2006, at Plains Regional Medical Center.
He was born June 23, 1920, in El Pubelto, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Jorge and Sara Dominguez Venegas.
He married Gregoria Sanchez in Mexico.
He was a laborer in the agricultural industry, and was a member of the Apostolic Church in Clovis.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister.
He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Rosa Medrono of El Paso, Texas, Sara Garcia of Clovis and Mary Diaz of Seminole, Texas; a brother, Manuel Venegas of Las Cruces; 12 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Rudy and Evander Diaz, Rogelio Rivas Jr., Eddie Garcia, Antonio Lozano, and Raul Galaviz.
Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home.
Donnie Ray Stroup
Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Tatum Cemetery.
Donnie Ray Stroup, 65, died Thursday, March 2, 2006, at his sister’s home in Elida.
He was born Feb. 28, 1941, in Portales to Audrey and Robbie Lee Stroup.
A lifelong resident of Roosevelt and Curry counties, he lived with his parents until they died, then with his stepfather and later his sister.
He was a resident at the Eastern New Mexico Rehabilitative Services for the Handicapped when it was instituted, and did light work and enjoyed the social atmosphere and activities, family members said.
He liked animals, enjoyed horseback riding and fishing, and his favorite foods were hamburgers and French fries, according to family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by a brother, Adrian (and wife Phyllis) Stroup of Dora; a sister Darlene (C.L.) Davis-Roach; and nieces and nephews.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adrian Stroup, Brady Stroup, Tyler Stroup, Westen Stroup, C. L. Roach, Steve Davis, Calvin Davis, Bruce Davis and Randal Davis.
Scott P. Reeves will officiate.
Visitation will be noon until 6 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday at Wheeler Mortuary, Portales.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary.
June B. Ezell
Services: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at First United Methodist Church, Portales.
June B. Ezell, 90, died Dec. 22, 2005, at her daughter’s home in Ponce Inlet, Fla.
She was born June 1, 1915, in Clovis, and was a longtime Portales resident.
A celebration-of-life memorial service will be held.
Antonio Balbuena
Services: 10 a.m., Monday, St. Helen Catholic Church
Antonio Balbuena, 44, died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at University Medical Center, Lubbock.
He was born Dec. 26, 1961, in Chihuahua, Mexico, to Andrea and Antonio Balbuena.
He grew up in Portales where he attended school.
He then began working for local dairies.
On March 15, 1986, he married Donna Balbuena.
He later worked for Valley Electric in Portales.
His hobbies included carpentry and building furniture, family members said.
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his ex-wife of Texico; two sons, Antonio Jr. (and wife, Martha) and Javier Balbuena of Texico; two daughters, Maria Balbuena (Florencio Perales) of Portales and Claudia Rodriguez of Chihuahua, Mexico; six grandchildren; his mother of Portales; two brothers, Fernando Balbuena (Josephina) of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Arturo Balbuena of Portales; five sisters, Lourdes Pacheco (Arturo) of Clovis, Olivia Lozano (Ramon) and Veronica Balbuena (Fidel Hernandez), all of Portales, Gilda Esquivel (Arnulfo) of Midland, Texas, and Imelda Almonza (Natividad) of Mesa, Ariz.
Father James McGowan will be the celebrant. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 2006, at Iglesia Apostolica, 505 N. Avenue B, Portales.
Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Gibran Almanza, Javier Balbuena, Fernando Balbuena, Damian Lozano, Florencio Perales, and George Dominguez.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary.
Steven Lynn Horton
Services: Have been held.
Steven Lynn Horton, 59, of The Woodlands, Texas, died Friday, June 9, 2006, in Houston after a long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born May 2, 1947, in Portales, he graduated from Clovis High School in 1965.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University in 1970.
He was successful in his professional career beginning as a staff engineer at Exxon and retired as vice president of engineering for Duke Energy, family members said.
He then founded AGIS Technology and grew it into a successful engineering company, according to his family.
As successful as he was in business, his true passions were his family, his faith and his friends, family members said.
A gentle soul with a big heart, he always thought of others before himself, they said.
He was a caring, kind, generous and loving man and a true friend to all who knew him, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Billye.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda, of The Woodlands; son, Jeff of Thailand; father and stepmother, Leonard and Lorraine Horton of Clovis; brother, Stan Horton (and wife, Emily) of Phoenix; stepson, Travis of Houston, and nephews, Alex and Jeremy of Phoenix.
Memorials may be made to the Steve Horton Cancer Fund for Children at M.D. Anderson Hospital, (800) 525-5841.
Arrangements are by Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, Conroe, Texas.
Verna Remay Anderson Haley
Services: Will be private.
Verna Remay Anderson Haley, 89, of Mesa, Ariz., and formerly of Portales, died Thursday, June 15, 2006, in Mesa.
Born in Los Angeles to Verna and Donald Anderson on June 17, 1916, she married Charles William Haley on May 27, 1946, in Roswell.
She was an active member of Portales Nazarene Church from 1964 to 1996 and a Sunday school teacher for 20 years in Portales, where her heart lay, according to family members.
She moved to Mesa in 1996.
She loved family, God, flowers, birds and people, her family said.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Audrey Leonore Miller.
She is survived by four daughters, Karen Dixey Payne of Ruidoso, Shirley Ruth Smoot of Houston, and Evelyn (Ellie) Verna Campbell and Janny Heflin Enoch of Mesa; grandchildren, Jason Reynolds, Johnathan, Ben and Phillip Payne, Robbie and Susan Smoot, Aaron and Isaac Baca, Mandy Shearer, Stacey Koutsoudis, Tracy Ganatos and Danny Heflin Jr.; and 12 great-grandchildren
Arrangements are by Wyman Cremation and Burial, Mesa, Ariz.
Sharon L. Porter
Services: Will be held in Tucumcari at a later date.
Sharon L. Porter, 51, of Tucumcari died Friday, June 16, 2006, at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales.
Born Feb. 18, 1955, to Frances (Shaw) and Kenneth Porter, she graduated from Tucumcari High School in 1973.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1984.
She taught special education in the Las Cruces area for many years before returning to Tucumcari in 2002, following her mother’s death.
She loved animals and had been involved in various animal rescue organizations while residing in Las Cruces, according to her family.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
She is survived by her father, Kenneth L. Porter (and his special companion, Helen Henning) of Tucumcari; her brother, Frederick F. Porter of Tucumcari; her sister, Patricia Stull of Portales; a niece, Ashley Porter of Augusta, Ga.; three nephews, Ricky Porter of Ashville, N.C., Robert Jones of Augusta and Michael Stull of Portales; five great-nephews and three great-nieces in Georgia and North Carolina; and a special cousin, Karen McIntire of Gretna, La.
Memorials may be made to Helping Hands Hospice, 615 S. Second, Tucumcari, NM 88401 or Heartland Continuing Care Center’s Living Design Aviary, 1700 S. Ave. O, Portales, NM 88130.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
Jeffrey Townley
Jeffrey (Scott) Townley, 44, of Capitan, died Tuesday, June 6, 2006, in Capitan.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1961, in Portales, to Sam and Lela Jo Townley.
He moved to Capitan in 1971 and attended Capitan schools.
He graduated in 1980.
He attended New Mexico State University.
He was employed as a plumber.
Family members said he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, camping, hiking and singing.
He was preceded in death by his father, Sam Townley.
Survivors include his mother, Lela Jo Townley of Capitan; daughter, Joey of California; two brothers, Sam Townley Jr. of Capitan and Larry Townley of Oklahoma City; three sisters, Lisa Farran of Capitan, Micki Martin of Capitan and Merri Townley of Moreno Valley, Calif.; and nephews, Oakley Farran of Spring Valley, Utah, Joshua Gomez of Capitan and Anthony Townley of Moreno Valley, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mescalero Dialysis Center.
Arrangements are by LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Ruidoso.
Shirley Robinson
Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Lake Arthur Baptist Church.
Shirley Mae Robinson, 73, of Lake Arthur, died Monday, June 12, 2006, in Lake Arthur.
She was born Nov. 20, 1932, in a farm house on the mesa near Floyd to James Walter Thomas and Eliza Jane (Davis) Thomas.
On Nov. 22, 1952, she married Delbert R. Robinson in Houston.
She was a secretary and bookkeeper for the farm and business, a substitute teacher for the Lake Arthur schools, and a school bus driver.
She was a member of Lake Arthur Baptist Church and the Yucca Porcelain Art Club in Roswell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, James M. Thomas; and a sister, Nell Finley.
Survivors include her husband, of Lake Årthur; two sons, Robbie L. Robinson (and wife, Melodia) of Houston, and Ricky L. Robinson (Rebecca) of Lake Arthur; four daughters, Terry Smith (Larry) of Artesia, Kathy Richardson (Keith) of Artesia, Vicki K. Clark (Burney) of Roswell and Debbie Kez (Fred) of Lake Arthur; a sister, Betty Jo Russell of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren, Robbie L. Robinson, Dustin P. Robinson of Hobbs, Lucas K. Smith, Tim L. Smith, Caleb Smith, Jillian N. Smith, Kimberly D. Richardson, of all of Artesia, Anne E. Clark and Thomas D. Clark, of Roswell; and a great-grandson, Luke H. Robinson of Hobbs.
Pastor Mike Barron will officiate.
Burial will be at Lake Arthur Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Lucas, Timothy and Caleb Smith, Gary Thomas, Earl and Eric Robinson, Garrett Woods and Randall Russell.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lake Arthur Baptist Church, Yucca Porcelain Arts Club in Roswell, Veteran’s organizations, historical society or any local children’s library.
Services are under the direction of Terpening and Son Mortuary in Artesia.
Clint King
Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.
J. C. (Clint) King, 89, of Portales died Monday, June 12, 2006, at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home in Clovis.
He was born Feb. 16, 1917, in Scottland, Ill., to Mahree and John T. King.
He lived in Illinois and Indiana until 1980, when he retired and settled in Portales.
He graduated from high school in Dana, Ind., in 1934.
He worked on farms before joining the Milwaukee Railroad, where he worked for 14 years as a brakeman, conductor and a yard master.
He was employed by Moorman Feed for 10 years, and managed an auto parts store in Georgetown, Ill.
He moved to Pecos, Texas, to work with a seismograph crew and traveled over the region.
For several years he worked as a handyman.
He married Nella Graham on June 28, 1983, in Carrizozo. They enjoyed dancing with the Starlight Swingers Square Dance Club for many years, and danced all over the entire region, family members said. He attended services at First United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of Portales; two sons, David King (and wife, Darleen) of Tuscola, Ill., and Darrol King (Brenda) of Flowermound, Ill.; daughter, Donna Doane (Tom) of Channing, Texas; four grandchildren, Melissa Etherage (Matt), Bradley King (Julie), Nicole Burnett (Warren) and Jeramy Doane (Carrie); and four great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Harry Riser will officiate, assisted by Scott P. Reeves.
Burial will be in Portales Cemetery.
Jeramy Doane, Warren Burnett, Bradley King, Tom Doane, Lee Britton and David Russell will serve as pallbearers.
All of his many square-dancing friends will be honorary pallbearers.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
