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Lela Stokes
Lela Katherine Cross Stokes, 80, of San Antonio, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, Mother’s Day, in San Antonio. She was born Oct. 1, 1921, in Matagorda the daughter of the late Marvin Cross and Mary Adell Landrum Cross.
Mrs. Stokes was reared in Matagorda and was a former resident of Eagle Lake and Newgulf before moving to San Antonio in 1969. She married Virgel Malone Stokes on Feb. 18, 1956, in Sugar Land and he preceded her in death on May 10, 2000. Mrs. Stokes was employed as a bookkeeper for Rothenberg Furniture Store and Sol’s Men’s Wear until her retirement. She was a member of Crestview Baptist Church in San Antonio.
Graveside services and interment were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2002, in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Paul Thomasson officiating.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary Katherine Stokes of San Antonio; sisters, June Gary of Boling and Ann Sherrill of Austin; grandchildren, John-Taylor Malone Karshis and Kimberly Chloe-Adell Karshis.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 204 2nd Street, Wharton, Texas 77488; of any children’s organization of personal choice.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Rachel Ephram
Funeral services for Rachel Allen Ephram, 74, will be held at 11:30 a.m. today, Saturday, at Holy Trinity Baptist Church, 1400616 South Post Oak Boulevard in Houston. Graveside services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church Cemetery in Boling,.
Mrs. Ephram died May 13, 2002. She was born April 13, 1938, in Boling to Will Allen and Gertrude Henry-Allen.
Rachel leaves to cherish her memories sons and daughter-in-law, William and Veronica Wilkins Jr. and Roy Ephram Jr.; daughter; Shirley Ephram-Neal; sisters, Gertrude Ford, Annie Pegh, Ruth Oliver, Hazel Shanklin, Parline Allen and a host of relatives and friends.
Manuel Pena
Manuel R. Pena Jr., age 72, of Boling, died Sunday evening, May 12, 2002, in a Houston hospital following a sudden illness. He was born on June 27, 1929, in Raymondville, the son of Manuel R. and Hotencia Rodriguez Pena Sr.
Mr. Pena had been a resident of Boling for the past 33 years and was a former resident of Newgulf. He married Rebecca Robles on Sept. 17, 1949, in Wharton.
Mr. Pena worked as an operator for Texasgulf Sulphur for 31 years until his retirement.
He was a veteran of World War II and a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Boling.
A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at the chapel of the Wharton Funeral Home and a Funeral Mass was recited at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Boling with Father Raymond Jackson officiating.
Burial followed in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton and military graveside honors were provided by American Legion Post No. 87 of Wharton. Mr. Pena was preceded in death by one son, Manuel Pena III in 1981.
Survivors Include: wife; Rebecca Pena of Boling; daughters and spouses, Rebecca and Richard Gonzales of Pasadena, Hortencia Pena and Julian Reyna of Lockhart, Juanita and John Becerra of Boling, Sandra and Celio Chapa of Houston, Cleo Pena and Salvador Solorzano and Maria and Bill York, all of Boling; sisters, Elena Ortiz of Edinburg and Josephina Rodriguez of Lufkin; brothers, Conrad Pena of Minnesota and Lupe Pena of Dallas; 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren also survive.
Pallbearers were Richard Gonzales Jr., Edward Pena Jr., Rudy Becerra, Celio Chapa Jr., Marcos Campos III and Arturo Perez Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were all of his former co-workers at Texasgulf Sulphur and his many friends and neighbors.
Funeral services were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Theodore Rucker
Theodore Pierre “Ted” Rucker, 79, of Louisburg, Kan., died Saturday, May 4, 2002.Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at the Drexel United Methodist Church in Drexel, Mo. Burial followed in Rockville Cemetery, Miami County, Kan., with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Mr. Rucker was in the Army during World War II, serving three years in North Africa.
On May 18, 1951, he was married to Dorothy Jean Stowe in Kansas City, Mo. They have made their home in the Drexel, Mo., area since 1953.
He was an active member of the Drexel United Methodist Church.
Mr. Rucker is survived by his wife, Dorothy S. Rucker of the home; a son, Navy Commander Terry Rucker of Kansas City, Mo.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Lee Lemson of Wharton, Diane and Lane Cornelius of Raytown, Mo., and Sharon and Bill Oakes residing in Germany; five grandchildren; two half-brothers, David and Joe Rucker of West Virginia; and a half-sister, Barbara Gillespie of Kentucky.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Drexel United Methodist Church in Drexel, Mo.
Barbara Cooper
Funeral services for Barbara “Big B” Cooper, 43, of Wharton, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Faith Baptist Church with Rev. M.E. Matthews officiating. Burial will follow in Jawbone Cemetery in Burr. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Matthews Funeral Home.
Ms. Cooper died May 20, 2002, at Gulf Coast Medical Center after a sudden illness. She was born April 2, 1959, in Wharton to Joan Hayes Colton and the late Keria Hayes.
She was a lifelong resident of Wharton and was a homemaker. Ms. Cooper was Baptist by faith.
Survivors include sons, Tarvis Hayes, Lloyd Grissom and Barteé Grissom; sisters and brother-in-law, Karen Taylor and Jeanetta and John Marbles; brothers and sister-in-law, Leonard and Mary Hayes, Kerie Hayes, Curtis Temple and Brian Petitt.
Severa Arriaga
Severa Esparza Arriaga, age 77, of Boling, died Tuesday evening, May 21, 2002, at her residence following an extended illness. She was born on Nov. 6, 1924, in Seguin, the daughter of Federico and Estanislada Longoria Esparza.
Mrs. Arriaga had been a resident of Boling since 1948 and was a member of the Bethel Pentecostal Church C.L.A.D.I.C. in Wharton. She was also a member of the Women’s Society at the Church. She married Osbaldo Arriaga on July 24, 1948, in Wharton.
A wake service was held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2002, at the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home and funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2002, at Wharton Funeral Home with Lic. Mario Fuentes officiating and assisted by Rev. Salvador Ruiz. Burial followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include husband, Osbaldo Arriaga of Boling; daughters and sons-in-law, Amelia Margarita Arriaga, Martha and Fred Rodriguez, all of Boling, and Mary Helen and Francisco Alas of Beasley; sons and daughters-in-law, Prudencio V. and Maria Elia Arriaga of Boling, Joseph Augustine and Susie Arriaga of Rosemead, Calif., Maximo Manuel and Irma Arriaga of Rosenberg, and Elias and Mary Margaret Arriaga of Abilene; mother, Estanislada Esparza of Wharton; sisters, Aniseta Guzman and Magdalena Guerra, both of Wharton, Juana Esparza of Phoenix, Ariz., Estanislada Morales of El Campo, Anacleta Garza of Sweeney; brothers, Francisco Esparza of California and Serapio Esparza of Wharton; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.
Pallbearers were Prudencio Arriaga Jr., Daniel Lee Arriaga, Mark Anthony Arriaga, Timothy John Arriaga, Max Arriaga Jr., Jose Pineda Jr. and Jonathan Andrew Arriaga.
Honorary pallbearers were Joanne Cervantes, Karen Marie Arriaga, Noemi Pineda, Sgt. Ana Alas, Christie Arriaga and Robert Cervantes.
In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to: Bethel Pentecostal Church, P.O. Box 885, Wharton, Texas 77488.
Funeral services were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Clara Svec
Funeral services for Clara Fojtik Svec, 82, of East Bernard, will be held at 10 a.m. today, Saturday, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard with Rev. Don Rupert officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was held Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Mrs. Svec died May 23, 2002, in Richmond. She was born in Holman to Frank and Rozena Migl Voldan. She was reared in Praha and Schulenberg. Mrs. Svec attended school in Praha. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was a lifelong homemaker.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Johnnie and Gladys Fojtik of Schulenberg, Frankie and Deborah Fojtik of Rosenberg, Larry and Beverly Fojtik of Katy, Jerry and Theresa Fojtik of Hungerford, Victor and Monica Fojtik of Rosenberg, Henry Fojtik of East Bernard and Robert and Rosemary Fojtik of Rosenberg; sisters, Henrietta Koester of El Campo and Mary Barcak of Praha; brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Louise Voldan of El Campo, George Voldan of El Campo and Daniel and Isabel Voldan of Rosenberg; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Call Knesek Family Funeral Chapels in Wallis.
Willis Sherrill
Willis Marion Sherrill, age 76, of Van Vleck, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, in a Houston hospital. He was born on Sept. 12, 1925 in Weeks, Ark., the son of the late James Oscar Sherrill and Ovie Zella Meeks Sherrill.
Mr. Sherrill married Annie Estella Balusek on Dec. 31, 1943, in Wharton and she preceded him in death on May 9, 1983. He later married Martha Ellen Bender on June 15, 1984, in Van Vleck. He was employed as a rigging superintendent for Power System, Inc., Group Inc., and Gulf States Inc. for some 30 years until his retirement in 1992. He also worked as a salesman for Dunn Equipment. Mr. Sherrill served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He is a former resident of Pledger and had resided in Van Vleck since 1985. Mr. Sherrill was a member of the Boling Church of Christ and was a director of the Matagorda County Water District No. 6. He was a former president of the Matagorda County Roping Club and was an honorary member of the Bay City FFA. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting, gardening and farming.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, 2002, in the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Ramsey and Paul Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Wharton City Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation from 5-9 p.m. today, Saturday, May 25, 2002, at Wharton Funeral Home.
Survivors include wife Martha Sherrill of Van Vleck; daughters and son-in-law, Jimmy and Claude Jenkins of Pledger and Mona Christine and Timothy Stavinoha of Boling; sons and daughters-in-law, Buddy and Kathy Sherrill of Wharton, Alan and Margaret Sherrill of Bay City and step-son, Wayne and Beverly Bender of Bay City; brothers, Hartzell Sherrill of Wharton and Franklin Sherrill of Austin; grandchildren, Shari Jenkins, Carl Jenkins, Kim Torres, Willis Marion Sherrill III, Michael Sherrill, Samantha Marshall, Todd Sherrill, Amy Jo Stavinoha and step-grandson, Vernon Bender; four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Jane Allen.
Pallbearers will be Carl Jenkins, Michael Sherrill, Todd Sherrill, Bud Sherrill, Vernon Bender, Chad Marshall, Damian Torres and Lee Harvey.
Honorary pallbearers are Bob Hutson, Wayne Massey, Roy Clegg and Phil Vanderhider.
If desiring, memorials may be made to the Van Vleck First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 541, Van Vleck, Texas 77482 or the Leukemia Society of America, 730 North Post Oak, Suite 314, Houston, Texas 77024.
Thomas White
Funeral services for Thomas William “Bill” White, 70, of Lafayette, La., are pending at Delhomme Funeral Home in Lafayette, La.
Mr. White is a former resident of Newgulf and the brother of Clinton White of Wharton. He died at his residence on May 23, 2002.
Kara Zornes
Graveside services for Kara Lea Rash Zornes, 28, of Brownsville, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, Saturday, at Evergreen Memorial Park with Vincent J. Skero officiating.
Mrs. Zornes died May 18, 2002, in San Benito following an accident. She was born on Aug. 27, 1973, in Houston, the daughter of Ferman E. Rash Jr. and Genette Marie Shields Rash.
She married Darrell Zornes on Oct. 20, 1980, in Georgetown. Mrs. Zornes attended school at Gulf Coast Community College in Florida and the University of Texas at Austin. She was employed as a project coordinator for Ray Perry Construction in Brownsville. Mrs. Zornes is a former resident of Panama City Beach, Fla., and had resided in Brownsville for the past six months. She was Protestant by faith and attended Faith Christian Church in Florida.
Survivors include husband, Darrell Zornes of Panama City Beach, Fla.; father, Gene Rash Jr. of Port Mansfield; mother and step-father, Genette and Chester Dixon of Georgetown; grandparents, Charlie and Ethel Roberts of Wharton; sister, Crystal Rash of Georgetown; brothers, Chris Rash of Brownsville, Tucker Rash and Tre-Lee Rash of Port Mansfield; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews also survive.
If desiring, memorials may be made to the Houston Farm and Ranch Scholarship Fund, No. 1 Abercrombie Drive, Houston, Texas 77085.
Call Wharton Funeral Home.
Avelina Cordero
Funeral services for Avelina Garza Cordero, 83, of Hungerford, were held Monday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church with Rev. Raymond Jackson officiating. Burial followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. A rosary service was held Sunday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church.
Mrs. Cordero died Sept. 13, 2002, at her residence after an extended illness. She was born on March 3, 1919, in Goliad, the daughter of the late Gumecindo and Maria Sefuntes Garza.
She married Manuel Cordero Sr. on May 2, 1935, in Richmond and he preceded her in death on Nov. 21, 1990. She was a lifelong resident of Hungerford and was a member Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. She loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include daughters, Carmen Moreno of Rosenberg, Mary Perez of Pasadena, Evelyn Hooks of Hungerford, Eva Prado of Wharton, Elaine Sanchez of Bay City, Sally Morales of Hungerford, Lynn Munoz of East Bernard, Laurie Clifton of Hungerford, Estella Bustamante of Hungerford and Anita Gonzales of East Bernard; sons, Frank Cordero of Deer Park, Ray Cordero of Hungerford and Adolph Cordero of Wharton; sisters, Elida Gonzales of Houston, Paz Cordero of Wharton, Lidia Gonzales of Houston and Elyida Castillo of Eagle Lake; brothers, Gilbert Garza of Victoria, Joe Garza of Sweeny and Domingo Garza of Spring Branch; 47 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Cordero Sr., son, Manuel Cordero Jr., sister, Carolina Contreas, and brother, Edward Garza Sr.
If desiring, memorials may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 506 South East Avenue, Wharton, Texas 77488.
Frank Farley
Perry Franklin “Frank” Farley, age 87, of Wharton, died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002, in Wharton following an extended illness. He was born on July 7, 1915, in Sanderson, the son of the late Dan Paul and Maude Elizabeth Musgrave Farley.
Mr. Farley attended Crystal City High School and was awarded the high school’s football MVP award in 1933. He married Faye Tidwell and had four loving children. He was later remarried to Irene Caywood, who preceded him in death. On March 13, 1994, he married Helen Wind Wendel in Wharton. She preceded him in death on Oct. 24, 1999. Mr. Farley worked as an operator of heavy equipment until late in his life. We was a former resident of Port Neches and had resided in Wharton since 1992. He was a member of Grace Community Fellowship and loved fishing, telling stories and playing table games.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2002 in the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home with David Allen officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Jamie and Dwight King of Wharton and Dana and Wiley Johnson of Houston, son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Annette Farley of Fayetteville; granddaughters and spouses, Amy and Eric Kraft and Abby and Troy Schubach and grandsons, Dr. Will Farley, P.J. Farley and Cecil Farley. We was preceded in death by his son, Michael, four sisters and two brothers.
If desiring, memorials may be made to the Wharton Boys and Girls Club, 2120 Newton, Wharton, Texas 77488.
Funeral services were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Fayetta Strickland
Funeral services for Fayetta Looper Strickland, 82, of Wharton, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Wharton Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation from 4-9 p.m. today, Wednesday.
Elbert Hinton
Funeral services for Elbert Ray Hinton Jr., 67, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Houston with Rev. J. Roberson officiating. Wake services will be held from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Eternal Rest Funeral Home.
Mr. Hinton was born May 2, 1935, in Glen Flora.
He accepted Christ at an early age and joined Camp Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dan Carter. Mr. Hinton graduated from T.L. Pink High School in 1953 and in 1958 he earned his B.S. degree in education from Paul Quinn College in Waco. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was promoted to first sergeant and received an honorable discharge in 1962. That same year, he began his teaching career in Garwood. Mr. Hinton later accepted a position in Eagle Lake Independent School District at E.H. Henry High School as a teacher and head basketball coach. His team won the state championship in 1966.
He met Lucille Roberson and they later married in April of 1963. In 1966 the family relocated to Houston and united with Mount Hebron Baptist Church. He began a new career in social work at Gulf Coast Community Service as Director of Service for Troubled Youth. Mr. Hinton was also a counselor for the Federal Head Start Program. He later expanded his skills and was employed with Houston I.S.D. in the Campus Security Division at Lamar and Madison High schools.
Mr. Hinton was preceded in death by his parents Rev. Elbert Hinton Sr. and Nellie Jefferson Hinton. He is survived by wife of 39 years, Lucille Hinton; daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Hinton Montgomery-Campbell and Jeffery; one grandson; one granddaughter; brother and sisters-in-law, Alfred and Goldie Hinton of Houston and Jessie McCutcheon of Texas City; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Vernon and Cola Paige of Houston; sister and brother-in-law, Berta Lee Hinton Johnson-Carroll and Rossye of Las Vegas, Nev. and Ida Anderson of Blacksburg, Va.
Clayton Hodges
Following cremation, funeral services for Clayton Adelbert Hodges Sr., 68, of Boling, are pending at Wharton Funeral Home.
Mr. Hodges died Nov. 3, 2002, in Wharton. He was born March 1, 1934, in San Angelo, the son of the late Clayton Brown Hodges and Juanita Poteet Hodges.
He was reared in San Angelo and was a 1963 graduate of Texas A&M University. After receiving his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, he worked for various seismic survey companies including Dresser for many years. He was the founder and owner of C.H. Electronics in Houston for seven years. From 1986 until 1991 he was employed as an instructor in the Electronics School at Texas A&M University. Mr. Hodges married Marion Edwards on Sept. 14, 1979, in Richmond. Mr. Hodges was a veteran of the Korean Conflict having served in the U.S. Navy. He was a former resident of Houston, Bryan and League City before moving to Boling in 1995. Mr. Hodges was Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Marion Hedges of Boling; daughter, Angel Hodges of Dallas; son and daughter-in-law, Clayton A. and Audrey Hodges Jr. of Baytown; step-daughter and step-son-in-law, Susan and Kerry Sparks of Boling; step-sons and step-daughters-in-law, John and Teresa Chambers of Houston, David and Donna Chambers of Katy and Thomas and Janice Chambers of Hobe Sound, Fla.; sister, Gwen Tucker of San Angelo; four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
