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Estanislada Esparza
Estanislada L. Esparza, age 101, of Wharton, died June 2, 2004, in Wharton following an extended illness. She was born on May 7, 1903, in Flatonia, the daughter of the late Amado Longoria and Nicolasa Epolito Longoria.
Mrs. Esparza was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Wharton. She married Federico Esparza and he preceded her in death in June of 1953. Mrs. Esparza was a member of Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church and the Ladies Auxiliary.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Tuesday June 8, 2004, at the Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Mario Fuentes officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. A prayer service was held Monday evening at the Wharton Funeral Home.
Survivors include her daughters, Juanita Cervantes of Tucson, Ariz., Estanislada Morales of El Campo, Ana Garza of Sweeny, Magdalena Guerra of Wharton, Aniceta Gusman of Wharton and Consuelo Campos of Cuero; sons, Francisco Esparza of Madera, Calif., and Serapio Esparza of Wharton; sister, Ignacia Sanchez of Rosenberg; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren also survive.
She was preceded in death by a son, Marcelo Esparza; daughter, Severa Arriaga; sisters, Antonia Longoria, Rita Sapien and Alvina Sanchez; brothers, Manuel, Basilio, Elleno and Lupe Longoria.
Pallbearers were Flor Guerra, Grisel Guerra, Crystal Guerra, Veronica Rodriguez, Joe Pineda Jr., Prudencio Arriaga Jr., Daniel Lee Arriaga and Mark Anthony Arriaga.
If desiring, memorials may be made to Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church, 419 South Sunset, Wharton, TX 77488.
Rupert Ray
Funeral services for Rupert “Brownie” Ray Jr., 72, of Wharton County, will be held at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, at Little Zion Jerusalem Baptist Church with Rev. M. Calyen officiating. Burial will follow in Bowden Cemetery.
Mr. Ray died June 4, 2004, at Houston Hospice Center. He was born March 14, 1932, in Wharton to Rupert and Mattie Shanklin Ray Sr.
Survivors include brother, Rev. Marvin Calyen of Houston; sisters, Katherine Pines of Wharton, Naomi Howard and Maxine Murray, both of Houston.
Contact Gooden-Hatton Funeral Home.
Joe Williams
Funeral services for Joe Lewis Williams, 68, of El Campo, will be held at 1 p.m. today, Wednesday, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in El Campo with Rev. Robert Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in El Campo Community Cemetery.
Mr. Williams died June 4, 2004, at his residence. He was born July 8, 1935, to Raymond and Rodney Williams of Richmond.
Survivors include sons, Kenneth Williams of Houston and Rodney Williams of Richmond; brother, Rev. Namon Williams of El Campo; and three grandchildren.
Contact Pierce Boone Funeral Home.
Ella Wright
Ella Mae Grantham Wright, age 82, of East Bernard, passed away Sunday, June 6, 2004, at the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Wharton.
Mrs. Wright was born on Oct. 27, 1921, in Magnet, the daughter of Arthur Reese and Ellen Josephine Perry Grantham. She attended school in Magnet and later graduated from East Bernard High School Class of 1938. On Jan. 24, 1946, she married James Wright Jr. in Luling.
Before marriage, she worked as librarian of East Bernard High School, worked in the telephone office, and worked in Otto’s Grocery Store. After marriage, Mrs. Wright was a full-time homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in East Bernard.
She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Reese Grantham in 1965; her mother, Ellen Josephine Perry Grantham in 2001; brothers, Byron Afton Grantham and Robert Marion Grantham in 1999; son-in-law, Michael Shaver, in 1994; two brothers-in-law, LeRoy Guess and Nolan White.
Survivors include her husband, James Wright Jr. of East Bernard; daughter, Jo Ann Wright Shaver of East Bernard; grandchildren, Donna Shaver, Austin, Daniel Shaver and wife, Elizabeth of Camp David, Md.; sisters, Louima Guess of Iago, Vernice Pietzsch and husband, Paul, of East Bernard, Josephine White of Luling; brothers, Wilbur Grantham and wife, Wanda of Luling, Carl Grantham and wife, Polly of Harwood, Ross Grantham and wife, Joyce, New Braunfels, Eugene Grantham and wife, Barbara of Luling, Wayne Grantham and wife, Nancy of Luling; nieces, nephews, other relatives and loved ones including brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lamar and Leola Wright Haffelfinger of Hempstead.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2004, from the First United Methodist Church in East Bernard with Rev. Michael Holcomb officiating. Burial followed in the First United Methodist Church Cemetery in East Bernard.
Pallbearers were Keith Bridges, Dennis Pietzsch, George Grantham, Kenneth Grantham, Matthew Grantham and Donald Guess.
For those desiring, the family has requested memorials be directed to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 476, East Bernard, TX 77435; or American Diabetes Association, Serving Texas, P.O. Box 1834, Merrifield, Va. 22116-8034.
Zimmie Allen
Funeral services for Zimmie Allen, 91, of Wharton, will be held at 2 p.m. today, Saturday, at Martin Luther King Church of Christ with Eddie Brinkley officiating. Burial will follow in Wharton City Cemetery.
Mrs. Allen died June 15, 2004, at her residence. She was born Dec. 25, 1912, in Wharton to George and Francis Coleman Washington.
Survivors include daughters, Ruby Richardson and Doris Duffield, both of Wharton; sister, Aslee Moore of Wharton; 14 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Marion Earls
Funeral services for Marion Earls, 60, of Wharton, are pending with Gooden-Hatton Funeral Home.
Irene Williams
Funeral services for Irene Moses Williams, 57, of Wharton, are pending at Gooden-Hatton Funeral Home.
Wilbern Allen
Funeral services for Wilbern Milton Allen, 77, of Boling, will be held at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, at Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Kersten officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with military graveside honors provided by American Legion Post No. 87 of Wharton.
Mr. Allen died June 13, 2004, in a Wharton hospital after a brief illness. He was born June 11, 1927, in Freeport, the son of the late Lee Allen and Lillian Hobbs Allen.
He had been a resident of Boling since 1940 and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wharton. Mr. Allen was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army. He married Ida Mae Matula on Dec. 16, 1950, in Beeville. He was preceded in death by one sister and one brother.
Survivors include his wife, Ida Mae Allen of Boling; daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Robert Gajdosik of Bastrop; sons and daughter-in-law, Douglas Allen of Rosenberg, Dennis Allen of Kosse and Dwain and Sharron Allen of Paige; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Joe Joines of Boling; brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Sue Allen of Nederland; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 325 N. East Avenue, Wharton, TX 77488; or The American Cancer Society, 204 Second Street, Wharton, TX 77488.
Donna Benge
Donna H. Benge, age 42, of Wharton, died Sunday, June 13, 2004, in Wharton following a sudden illness. She was born on Feb. 22, 1962, in Takoma Park, Md., the daughter of Herbert Andrew Holland and Margy Secrist Hall.
Mrs. Benge was a former longtime resident of Angleton before moving to Wharton in 1989. She married Olan Eugene Benge II on May 31, 1989, on Matagorda Beach. Mrs. Benge was a 1980 graduate of Angleton High School. She received her associate degree from Wharton County Junior College in 1988, bachelor of science degree in political science from the University of Houston in 1991 and doctor of jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1997.
She founded her private law practice, Donna Benge Attorney at Law, in November of 1997 in Wharton. Mrs. Benge was also a co-owner of Poor Farms Bail Bonds and Wrecker Service. She achieved many honors while attending South Texas College of Law, including Certificate of Recognition in Moot Court Competition in 1994, finalist in Mock Trial competition in 1995 and Dean’s Honor List in the fall semester of 1996. She was admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor for the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1999.
Mrs. Benge was a member and contributor to many associations including, the American Bar Association, Texas State Bar Association, Wharton Bar Association, where she was president in 1999-2000), Association of Women Attorneys, Boling Fair Fund, Wharton Fair Fund and was a corporate sponsor for the Plaza Theater. She was a member of the Iago Federated Church.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, June 18, 2004, at the Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Mickey Reynolds officiating. Graveside services will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation at the Wharton Funeral Home from 5 until 9 p.m. Thursday.
Survivors include her husband, Olan Eugene Benge II of Wharton; daughters, Stacey Lee Scoggins of Bay City, Samantha Michelle Benge of Wharton and Sabrina Nicole Benge of Wharton; son, Alvin Eugene Benge and wife, Sharon, of Wharton; mother, Margy Hall and husband, Rev. R. Don Hall, of Wharton; father, Herbert Holland and wife, Beverly, of Howe; sisters, Diane Holland Walsh and husband, James, of Howe, Debra Holland Wilcox and husband, Rusty, of Leonard, Darylann Wilson and husband, Mike, of Cameron, Okla., and Dafne Stengel and husband, Jerry, of Sherman; brothers, David Edward Holland and wife, Jodi ,of Cornelious, Ore., and Luke Hall of Wharton; grandchildren, Candice Scoggins, Courtney Scoggins, Brittney Benge, Shawn Benge and Alvin Benge Jr. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Pallbearers are Scott Query, Freddie Pekar, Craig Kresta, Russell Machann, David Voulgaris, David Morgan, Eric Blanchard and Jerry DeLuna.
If desiring, memorials may be made to the Wharton Animal Control, 220 S. Fulton, Wharton, TX 77488.
Jo Black
Jo Lurlyne Lester Black, age 87, of Wharton, died Friday, June 11, 2004, in a Houston hospital following a sudden illness. She was born on Nov. 6, 1916, in Denton, the daughter of the late Alvin Jefferson Lester and Shirley Maupin Lester.
Mrs. Black had been a resident of Wharton since 1943 and was a member of Christ Is Life Church in Wharton. She married Dr. Vernon A. Black Sr. on Sept. 26, 1936, in Quannah, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1988. Mrs. Black was also preceded in death by two brothers. She was a homemaker and a member of the “Out To Lunch Bunch.”
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at Christ Is Life Church with Rev. Michael Atherton officiating. Burial followed in Wharton City Cemetery.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law; Shirley and Bowden Atherton of Tulsa, Okla., Becky and Ken Barnett of Wharton and Susan Long of Wharton; son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Laurie Black of Austin; grandchildren and spouses; Rev. Michael and Kim Atherton of East Bernard, Lucy and Doyle Bishop of Tulsa, Okla., Rachel Barnett of East Bernard, Bobby Barnett of Wharton, Guy Barnett of Houston, Stephen and Jessica Henny of Huntington Beach, Calif., Jonathan Henny of Austin, Katy Long of Austin, Courtney and Michael Manring of Tulsa, Okla., Meagan Wood and Alycia Black of Austin; great-grandchildren, Micah Atherton, Christopher Atherton and Shelly Atherton, all of East Bernard, Alyssa Bishop and Hutch Bishop of Tulsa, Okla., Josh Barnett of Austin, Brittany Sanchez and Marissa Sanchez of East Bernard, Robert Thomas Barnett of Wharton, Taylor Barnett and Kenny Barnett of Victoria, Crispin Henny and Viva Henny of Huntington Beach, Calif., Joanna Henny of Austin, Emily Manring and Jordan Manring of Tulsa, Okla.
Pallbearers were Bobby Barnett, Guy Barnett, Stephen Henny, Jonathan Henny, Micah Atherton, Christopher Atherton, Josh Barnett and Robert Thomas Barnett.
Honorary Pallbearers were Bowden Atherton, Kenneth Barnett, Doyle Bishop, Hutch Bishop, Winfield Atherton, Frank Greenhaw, Buddy Greenhaw, Dr. Woody Woodson, Dr. Clark Spears, Dr. Bob Caraway, Dr. David Samuelson, Dr. Harold Secor, Dr. Jon Snelling, Wayne Woods, Hip Zamora, Jess Howell, David Voulgaris, Patsy Valenta and the “Out to Lunch Bunch.”
In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to Christ Is Life Church, 915 FM 1299, Wharton, TX 77488.
Funeral services were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Kenneth McCain
Kenneth Ray McCain Sr., age 65, of East Bernard, died Wednesday, June 9, 2004, in a Richmond hospital. He was born on June 2, 1939, in East Bernard, the son of the late Willie Lee and Ione Singer McCain.
Mr. McCain married Deloris Jean Taylor on Feb. 5, 1961, in Seguin. After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force he returned to East Bernard. Prior to his death he worked as a construction supervisor for Brazos River Construction in Richmond. He was a member of First Baptist Church of East Bernard and a former commissioner of East Bernard Little League. Mr. McCain was an avid drag racer and Dallas Cowboy fan who loved dogs, fishing and playing with his grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 2004, at First Baptist Church of East Bernard with Rev. Duane Mayberry officiating. Interment followed in the East Bernard Methodist Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Deloris McCain of East Bernard; daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Fate Breedlove Jr. of East Bernard and Michelle Ann and Jeff Gajewsky of East Bernard; son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Ray McCain Jr. and wife, Karen, of East Bernard; grandchildren, Ashley Breedlove, Justin Breedlove, Scarlett McCain, Haley Gajewsky and Hannah Gajewsky.
Pallbearers were Ronnie McCain, Tim McCain, Robert McCain, Dale McCain, Michael McCain and David Morris.
Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren.
If desiring, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of East Bernard, 603 Fitzgerald, East Bernard, TX 77435.
Funeral services were under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.
Joseph Ferguson
Funeral services for Joseph Pugh “Joe/ J.P.” Ferguson, 82, of Wharton, will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, at Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Mack Mathis and Rev. Richard Devost officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton with military graveside honors provided by American Legion Post No. 87 of Wharton.
Mr. Ferguson died June 13, 2004, in a Wharton hospital after an extended illness. He was born May 25, 1922, in McGregor, the son of the late Lloyd Emmitt Ferguson and Violet Virginia Grabner Ferguson.
He had been a resident of Wharton for the past 45 years and was a member of First Baptist Church of Wharton. Mr. Feruson married Jeanette Wolaver June 6, 1953, in Harleton. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the 107th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron in Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. Mr. Feruson was awarded three battle Stars for the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of the Rhine River and the Central European Theater. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 87 in Wharton and The Life Study Fellowship Bible Study. Mr. Ferguson was an insurance salesman with Southwestern General Life Insurance Company for 31 years prior to his retirement in 1986. He graduated from Milano High School and then attended Southwest Texas State University.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette W. Ferguson of Wharton; sons, George Ferguson and Dwight Ferguson, both of Wharton; sister, Jeannie Sims of Gatesville.
In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to: American Heart Association, 2626 S. Loop West, Suite 510, Houston, TX 77054.
