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Mr. Kunkel
Funeral services for Clifton O. Kunkel were conducted April 7, 2004.
He was born July 10, 1930 in Hamilton, the son of Alvin and Ida (Krueger) Kunkel. He attended Lutheran day school at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aleman, attended and graduated Concordia College in Austin followed by four years at Condordia Teachers College, Seward, Neb. where he graduated with a B.S. in Education.
Mr. Kunkel did his student teaching at Trinity Lutheran in Waltham, Minn. and was installed into the teaching ministry of the LCMS at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on July 18, 1952. He later moved to Redeemer Lutheran School in Denver where he served as principal, followed by a transfer to Zion Lutheran in Ferguson, St. Louis, Mo. From there he returned to Denver at University Hills Lutheran.
Upon retiring from the Lutheran Teaching Ministry, Mr. Kunkel and family owned and operated a very successful building maintenance service until his death.
During his life, Mr. Kunkel served on various educational committees of the Colorado District of the LCMS, including being on the board of directors of Denver Lutheran High as well as a member of the school’s Men’s Athletic Club that sponsored one of his favorite interests, the annual barbecue at Denver Lutheran High for its 25-year life span raised substantial funds for the school.
He was married to Ruby Marie Lange of Brighton, Colo. on June 8, 1952. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children, Byron, Keith and Elaine (Kunkel) Mulhern. He had two grandchildren, Joshua and Danielle.
Mr. Kunkel’s special interests were his lawn, garden and especially his roses and his support of Tiny Town, an amusement park between Denver and Conifer that is a charitable organization.
Survivors include his wife; his son Byron; his daughter Elaine Mulhern, son-in-law, Ron Mulhern; grandchildren, Joshua and Danielle.
Brothers and sisters include, Alton and wife Lenora of Lakewood, Colo.; Jess and wife Garda of Concordia, Mo.; Virgil and wife Sarah of Plainview; Gladys Kunkel of Lakewood; Dennis of Souix Falls, S.D.; Martin and wife Carolyn of Amarillo; Sarah (Kunkel) Fowler and husband Jim of Pearland and an Aunt Freida Miesner of Hamilton along with a number of nephews, friends and business associates.
Mr. Thompson
Alfred Elijah Thompson, 87, died in a Temple hospital April 13, 2004. Funeral services were held Friday, April 16 at 10 a.m. in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lawrence Mulloy officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.
Mr. Thompson was born June 25, 1916 in Hamilton County to Sharrod William Thompson and Samantha Davis Thompson.
On Sept. 3, 1938 he was united in marriage to Lillian Arvilla Bowles in Gorman.
They made their home in the Gorman area for a number of years prior to moving to Hamilton in 1964.
A.E. was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather and great- great- grandfather. He served his country in the Army in World War II.
Most of his life he was a farmer. He also worked for Miller-Gunn and Ranglers. He was a member of the Providence Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, of Hamilton; four children, Alfred Ray Thompson and wife Deeta of Hamilton, Wilma Fay Cook and husband Donald of Gorman, Peggy Virginia Moore of Moody and Robert Max Thompson and wife Sharon of Jonesboro; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; one brother, S.W. (Jud) Thompson of Gorman and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Nora Harvey, nine sisters and six brothers.
Pallbearers were Clifton Dennis, Richard Dennis, W.R. McLearn, Larry Dale Thompson, L.V. (Sonny) McLearn and Ricky Miller.
Honorary pallbearers were Charles Garrett, Dick Keeter, Tommy Lester, Ealon Scott, Keith Curry and Larry Curry.
Mrs. Thompson
Laura Carolina Thompson, 93, died in Hamilton Monday, April 19, 2004. Graveside funeral services were held Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Langford Cemetery in Evant.
One of nine children, she was born December 28, 1910 in Aleman to W.M. and Maratha Sommerfeld Fulton.
On May 4, 1943 she was united in marriage to Mayford Lloyd (Buck) Thompson. They shared 47 years of married life prior to his death on Dec. 5, 1991.
Laura was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. For a number of years she ran a café in Evant, where she also served as cook. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Evant.
Her parents; one grandson, Christopher Herring; two sisters, Bessie Edmondson and Melinda Feldman; four brothers, Herbert, Jessie, Monroe and Erwin Fulton preceded her in death.
She is survived by two children and their spouses, Mary and L.D. Herring of Rendon and Sonny and Karen Thompson of Hamilton; six grandchildren, David Herring, Jessie Herring, Charlotte Thompson Weller, William Aeron Thompson, Jason Jacks and Jenny Green. She is also survived by two sisters Martha Schuman of Hamilton and Hattie Krueger of Aleman and by 10 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Stenstrom
Joseph Emanuel Stenstrom, 82, died May 11, 2004 at his home in Hamilton. Funeral services were held May 14 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton.
Mr. Stenstrom was born April 14, 1922, at Bemidji, Minn., the son of Andrew Manuel and Alvira Fossum Stenstrom.
He entered the Navy on July 1, 1943, where he was a pilot serving during World War II and Korea. While serving his country he was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat V, World War II Victory Medal, six Air Medals, China Service, Korean Service, United Nation Service, Asiatic-Pacific Area with three stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the National Defense Service Ribbon. He served as a pilot for the FAA for a number of years.
He was married to Annie Mozelle Cooper in December of 1952, at Yuma, Ariz. She preceded him in death on April 24, 1999. They had made their home in Hamilton since 1970.
Survivors include five children, Annie Laura Miller of Frankfort, Ind., Joseph Stenstrom of Colorado Springs, Colo., James Stenstrom of Grand Prairie, Helen Delashaw of Choctaw, Okla., Dorothy Stenstrom-Mozelle of Anchorage, Ala.; nine grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; four sisters, Marion Johansen of Oakland, Calif., Evelyn Bahr of Bemidji, Minn., Elizabeth Christensen of Eugene, Ore., Harriet Tesch of Bemidji, Minn.; four brothers, Kenneth Stenstrom of Warsaw, Ind., Arvid Stenstrom of Tucson, Ariz., LeRoy Stenstrom of Bemidji, Minn. and Stanley Stenstrom of Pomona, Calif.
Riley Funeral Home
Mr. Christian
T. C. Christian, 86, died in Arlington on May 20, 2004. Funeral services were held May 22 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ed Wright and Rev. Lawrence Mulloy officiating. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.
Mr. Christian was born August 27, 1917 at Kiowa, Okla., the son of Tom and Anner Dyer Christian.
He was an Army veteran of World War II. He retired from the Fort Worth Independent School District where he was the lead mechanic. He enjoyed fishing and traveling with his family and friends.
Mr. Christain particularly enjoyed traveling in the Northwestern States. He was a good gardener and had a vegetable garden every year through 2003. He was a devoted Christian and a wonderful father who was a positive example to the whole family.
He was a member of the Littleville Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was married to Beatrice Beacham, who preceded him in death in 1980.
On July 25, 1981 he was united in marriage to Mae Wilson Lowery at Arlington.
He is preceded in death by two brothers, Gene and Noah (Slim) Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Mae Christian of Hamilton; two sons, Donnie Christian of Temple, David Christian and wife Beverly of Benbrook; three step-children and their spouses, Lee and Jo Beth Lowery of San Angelo, George and Becky Lowery of Justin and Laverne and Melvin Hudson of Arlington; seven grandchildren, Holly Kursteiner, Lee Manning, Beverly Lynn Miller, Becca Jordan, Larry Lowery, Melvin Hudson, Jr. and Brenda Wilds-Shay; five great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; a sister-in-law, Jessie Christian of Hamilton; nieces and nephews, Mary Witte, Wyneth Christian, Tom Christian, Gary Christian, Glenn Christian and Roy Christian.
Pallbearers were Gary Christian, Glenn Christian, Roy Christian, Larry Lowery, Melvin Hudson Jr. and Lee Manning. Honorary Pallbearers were Wade Jordan & Jack Miller.
Riley Funeral Home
Mrs. Griffee
Paula Rosentreter Kuklies Griffee, 87, died at Hamilton Sunday May 23, 2004. Funeral services were held May 25 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Aleman. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton with Pastor Francis Mennenge officiating.
Mrs. Rosentreter was born February 25, 1917 at Aleman, the daughter of August and Agnes Schrank Rosentreter.
She was baptized in March of 1917 and confirmed March 29, 1931 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Aleman.
She was married to Arthur Kuklies on October 27, 1935 at St. Paul’s. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1965.
She was married to J. H. Griffee on Dec. 4, 1974. He preceded her in death August 29, 1979.
During World War II she worked in the aircraft plants and after returning to Hamilton, she was a nurse’s aide, a vocation she greatly enjoyed.
She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Aleman.
Mrs. Griffe was preceded in death by two daughters, Delphine Hutcherson and Jeanne Kuklies and a grandson Don Bill Kitchen.
Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Kitchen of Arlington, Patricia Chumney of Euless and Peggy Friesenhahn of San Antonio; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three sisters Ruby Bullard of Hamilton, Estelle Manthei of Waco, Odella Markwardt of Granbury and her longtime friend and companion Ernest Voges of Hamilton as well as many other family members and friends.
Pallbearers were Larry Riddle, Don Nelson, Butch Sohm, Junior Sohm, Barry Wood and Darrell Melde.
Riley Funeral Home
Mrs. Cosper
Nora Opal Cosper, 88, formerly of Killeen, died June 20. Funeral services were held June 24 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home with Willard Jack Dunn officiating. Burial was at Live Oak Cemetery in Youngsport.
She was born April 4, 1916 in Killeen, the daughter of Bur-ton and Victoria Shafer. She was married to Andrew Cosper in 1930. She worked for Dr. Burow at Burow Clinic and hospital for 22 years. She moved to Hamilton in 1987.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Raymond Shafer and Weldon Shafer.
Survivors include a son, H.C. Cosper and wife Patsy of Florence; a daughter, Shirley DeLoach and husband Gene of Hamilton; five grandchildren, Michele Cathey, Michael DeLoach and Mark DeLoach, all of Hamilton; Heath Cosper and Norei Cosper of Rockwall and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Cecil Lynn Cosper, Sidney Cosper, Dan Cosper, Wayne Cosper, Harold Cosper and Kenneth Cosper, all nephews of Mrs. Cosper.
Mrs. Harris
Janice Harris, 81, of Jonesboro, died July 3. Memorial services were held July 7 at Scott’s Funeral Home in Gates-ville.
She was born on October 20, 1922 in Garland, the daughter of R. Carl and Cleda Anderson Kiles. She did secretarial work for L.D. Brinkman Company for several years before retiring to a leisurely ranch life of RV camping, square dancing, oil painting and gourmet cooking.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Karen Moriarty.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Wayne Harris of Jonesboro; daughter, Carla Johnson and husband Verdell of Stanton, NE; son-in-law, Patrick Moriarty of Austin; sister, June McGinty of Purmela; three granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Joan Baker, 102 Alta Mira St., Gatesville, TX 76528 or the charity of your choice.
Mr. Riker
Hugh Riker, 82, died July 1 at Hamilton. Funeral services were held July 3 in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. James Ballard officiating and burial following in Rock Church Cemetery at Cranfills Gap.
He was born December 8, 1921 in Muir, Mich., son of Alta and Sam Riker. He grew up in Flint, where he attended the Flint Institute of Arts during his public school days. His fourth grade teacher recognized his artistic talents and encouraged him to develop his gift of drawing. He attended Layton School of Arts in Milwaukee, Wis., School of Practical Arts in Boston, Mass. and Chinard School of Design in Los Angeles, Calif.
Mr. Riker was a veteran of WWII, having served in the North Atlantic aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba, where he participated in the heroic rescue of 133 survivors of the S.S. Dorchester that sank off Greenland after being torpedoed by a German submarine.
Hugh was a kind, peace loving gentleman, always seeing the good in everyone he met. He saw beauty in all of God’s creations and always thought happy, positive thoughts. He was a loving husband and wonderful friend, filled with wisdom, always supportive and encouraging people to be their best and do what is right. He lived his Christian faith. He was a disciplined man, not only with his work but with himself. He loved people but he also treasured his quiet time. He was an avid reader and kept three or four booksgoing at a time, until Parkinson’s slipped in. He said the Hamilton Library was the best he had ever seen for a town its size.
As a little boy, he sold the Saturday Evening Post & the Grit door to door. As he got older, he sold the daily newspaper on the street corner. He was fascinated by the newspaper industry and later did lettering for several cartoon strips and lay outs.
In 1961, after a career in advertising, he launched his art career with a one-man exhibit at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. He loved Mexico and its culture. Mr. Riker taught work-shops in watercolor, drawing and pen and ink calligraphy throughout the Southwest and Mexico and English at the Mexican-American Language Institute in Uruappan, Mexico. His work appeared in Arizona Highways and Ford Times. He exhibited throughout the United States and Mexico. He was a prolific artist having drawn many of the historic Court Houses in Texas. He authored and illustrated Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Colorado, Learning to Draw in Pen Ink, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2, Wit & Wisdom Under the Tree of Knowledge and published a travel column for newspapers. His last major project was the 1999 Historic Texas Forts Calendar that he researched and worked on for a year and half before printing.
Mr. Riker is survived by his wife, Paula of Hamilton, who he married on March 11, 1989, his sister Beatrice Stewart of Muir, Mich., four children Kathy and Jeff of California, Lisa of Washington, Russell and his family of Traverse City, Mich., two step daughters and their families, Sherry Busby and son Josh Weathers and his wife Nikki of Hamilton and Kerri Barnett and her husband Gene and their sons Brandon, Bryson and Jacob of Bandera.
Pallbearers were Lonnie Thompson, Gwyn Christensen, Josh Weathers, Gene Barnett, Bob Ruble and Leonard Kirkland.
Mr. Houck
Hamilton Harold Houck 88, of Corsicana died August 27, 2004 in Corsicana. Funeral services were held August 29 in the Riley Funeral Home chapel in Hamilton with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial followed in Old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton.
Mr. Houck was born Dec. 19, 1915 in Hamilton, the son of C.E. Houck and Minnie Smith Houck.
On Nov. 15, 1939 he was married to Sarah Harris.
He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. Hamilton was a veteran of United States Marine Corp serving during World War II. He retired from Gulf Oil after 30 years of service as a transport driver. He was an active member of the Dawson Masonic Lodge # 155 as long as his health permitted and Baptist by faith.
He is preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and three brothers.
Pallbearers were James Bradford Houck, Martin Jeffery Quiram, Dennis Daniel Quiram, Martin Jeffery Quiram Jr., Bobby Ray Massingill, Jimmy Don Massingill
Survivors include his wife Sarah Harris Houck of Corsicana and a son James Harold Houck of Hubbard; two grandchildren, James Bradford Houck of Denton and Rhonda Sue Houck of Carrolton.
Riley Funeral Home
