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Mrs. Wenger
Juliet “Judy” Thompson Knight Wenger, pioneer journalist and broadcaster in South Texas, died Sunday, July 20, 2008, in hospice care surrounded by friends and family.
She was born Jan. 12, 1918, in Austin. She was the first female to cover the “night side” for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times — working at night to report on crimes and natural disasters.
While her career includes milestones for female communicator/journalists, she shared tea with (then) Vice President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson at their Johnson City Ranch in 1961 and was a guest of the French government on board the inaugural flight of Air France in 1962. Her White House press credentials gave her passage into the Oval Office where she photographed President John F. Kennedy and Nakita Khrushchev discussing the “red phone” hotline between Washington, D.C., and the Kremlin.
From her journalistic beginnings as a staff writer for the “Daily Texan” at the University of Texas where she graduated cum laude at the age of 20 in 1935, her 70-year career allowed her to interview movie stars, multi-millionaires and murderers alike.
Early in her career, she edited the Brazoria County Review, the Angleton Times, the Beeville Bee-Picayune, the Rockport Pilot and the Port Lavaca News before she joined the fledgling CBS-TV affiliate KZTV-KSIX as its first radio and television news director.
Following her broadcast career, she wrote for the Southside Today in Corpus Christi, the Aransas Pass Progress, the Ingleside Index and covered intergovernmental communications for the Coastal Bend Council of Governments.
Her writing has been featured in publications ranging from the National Press Photographer Magazine to Southwest Art and the Corpus Christi Junior League.
While a full-time reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, she also served as a correspondent for United Press International, the Christian Science Monitor, The San Antonio Express, the Houston Post, the Dallas Times-Herald and Time Magazine.
Among the awards she earned from the Texas Press Association was the title of “Best Radio Broadcast of 1958,” “Outstanding Coverage of Education” from the Corpus Christi Teachers’ Association, and “Woman of the Year in Communications for 1983” by the Corpus Christi YWCA. She won an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties for her coverage of Duval County government in 1981.
She was a charter member, and twice served as president, of the Corpus Christi Press Club. For 30 years, she participated in the club’s Gridiron Show, designed to poke fun at local news and newsmakers while raising funds for journalism scholarships.
She produced and hosted “State of the Region” covering the 12-county Coastal Bend region for the Coastal Bend Council of Governments which started as a 15-minute radio program in 1947 and continued as a half-hour weekly television program until 1982.
She was a pilot and enjoyed sailing.
She was a member of many area organizations and learned to change truck tires as captain of the Civil Defense Driver’s Corps in Bee County.
She is survived by her husband, Milburn Chris Wenger of Rockport, cousins, sisters-in-law and godchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lancelot Mayes Knight and Susan Thompson Knight, sister Virginia Knight and cousin Mark Whitney Dudley.
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Our Savior Episcopal Church in Aransas Pass.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.
Fuller
Billie Crites Fuller, 73, of Swinney Switch died Monday, Jan. 7, 2002.
A graveside service and burial were scheduled to be held at 2 o’clock this afternoon (Wednesday) in Cenizo Hill Cemetery in Mathis.
Mrs. Fuller was born July 2, 1928, in San Angelo to Eula Mae (Reeves) and James Nathanal Burleson. She was employed as the assistant manager at a package store prior to her retirement. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Argenta and the Swinney Switch Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
Survivors include two daughters, Kandy Mahan and husband Rick of Mineral Wells and Tera Bennett of Mathis; three sons, Billie Wayne “Robbie” Crites and wife Debbie of Fannin, Jimmy Keith of Palacios and Tony Dixson of Florida; a sister, Violet Austin of Mineral Wells; a sister-in-law, Loyce Burleson of St. Petersburg, Fla.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and four brothers, Joe, Edward, Albert and Carl Burleson.
Those who wish may make memorial donations to the Swinney Switch Volunteer Fire Department.
Galloway & Sons Funeral Directors, Three Rivers
Garcia
Gilbert Garcia of Banquete died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001. He was a retired Beeville ISD teacher. He was 76.
Survivors include his wife, Guadalupe E. Garcia of Banquete; four daughters, Sandra Peña, Norma (Chris) Grote, all of Corpus Christi, and Yvonne and Thelma Garcia, both of Banquete; a son, Gilbert (Sylvia) Garcia Jr. of Austin; three brothers, Gerardo, Rudy and Abelardo Garcia, all of Beeville; three sisters, Lillie Garcia, Helen Trujillo and Adela Salazar, all of Beeville; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held on Friday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home, Crosstown Chapel in Corpus Christi.
Gilmore
Fredie Ray Gilmore, 72, of Corpus Christi died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, in a hospital there.
Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Angelus Funeral Home chapel. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Angelus chapel, with the Rev. Larry Ray Gilmore officiating.
Burial will follow in the Mineral Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steven Ray, Larry Ray and David Lynn Gilmore, Dutch Allen Singleterry, Randy Anderson and Donna Lea Anderson.
Mr. Gilmore was born July 27, 1929, in San Antonio to Cassie (Lively) and Preston Gilmore. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a retired civil service employee at NAS Corpus Christi.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Faye Williamson Gilmore of Corpus Christi; three sons, Larry Ray Gilmore and wife Nancy of Longview, David Lynn Gilmore and wife Linda of Baytown and Steven Ray Gilmore of Corpus Christi; a daughter, Donna Lea Anderson and husband Randy of St. Charles, Mo.; two stepsons, Michael and Fred Quimby, both of Beeville; a stepdaughter, Stephany Liller of Waldorf, Md.; a brother, Guy Thomas Gilmore of Houston; a sister, Bobbie Jean Gilmore of Boerne; 11 grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Angelus Funeral Home
Hester
Betty Pohler Hardy Hester passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after a short illness. She was born Aug. 26, 1926, in Texas City to August R. Pohler and Bertha Warren Pohler.
The family moved to Beeville when she was a young child. She graduated from A.C. Jones High School and attended Baylor University and Texas A&I University.
She married C. Alan Hardy in September 1955, and they raised their family in Houston. She was a member of the Houston Junior League, Houston Symphony League, The Theater Under the Stars and Allegro Ballet of Houston.
After the death of her husband, she worked for the Houston ISD and retired in 1996 and moved to Beeville. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and participated in the Walk to Emmaus. She married Dr. John L. Hester, OD, on July 26, 1997, and they attended the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. John L. Hester; her 100-year-old mother, Bertha (Mrs. A.R.) Pohler of Beeville; her three children, Warren Alan Hardy and wife Kim Wixson Hardy of Beeville, Lynn Hardy Neill and husband Louis Frank Neill of Leander and Alisa Hardy Fogg and husband Michael David Fogg of Round Rock; six grandchildren, Lauren and Hunter Hardy of Beeville, Scott and Sarah Neill of Leander and Alan and Ashlyn Fogg of Round Rock; two stepdaughters, Mary Gail Hester Masters and husband Randall of Arlington and Patsy Hester Daussat and husband Richard of Grapevine; and six step-grandchildren.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Galloway & Sons chapel.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church.
Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ken Harvey, Monte Hall, Syd Hall, Sid Elder, Jack Conoly, all of Beeville, Rusty Landers and Noel Noble of Houston and Milton Hertel of Angleton. Honorary pallbearers will be Burt Hause, Wilbur Taylor, Wayne Massengale, Van Massengale, Dr. O.C. Schroeder, Dick Beasley, Clarence Hester, Charles McCauley, Jerry Hedrick and Douglas Pohler.
Donations may be made to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 297153, Houston, TX 77297, or the First United Methodist Church of Beeville.
Galloway & Sons Funeral Directors
Lopez
Edward Lee Lopez, 19, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002.
Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. George Catholic Church. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 o’clock this morning (Wednesday) at St. George Church, with Father Piotr Gajda officiating.
Burial followed in the George West Cemetery. Pallbearers were Michael Gonzales, Warren Reyna, Hector Cortez, Jesse Sanchez, Anthony Ponce, Teddy Nicholson, Chad Parker and Jared Pawlik.
Mr. Lopez was born July 30, 1982, in Galveston to Clemencia Chapa of Beeville and Trinidad Lopez of Alvin. He was a graduate of George West High School and was a student. He was a member of St. George Church.
In addition to his parents, survivors include a special friend, Lauren Walker of George West; his stepfather, Joe Anthony Rodriguez of Beeville; his twin brother, Richard Lee Lopez of George West; a sister, Rosalinda Lee Lopez of George West; a half brother, Joe Luis Cervantes of Beeville; a half sister, Cassandra Cervantes of Beeville; his maternal grandmother, Margarita Chapa of George West; and his maternal great-grandmother, Birdie Lopez of George West.
Galloway & Sons Funeral Directors, Three Rivers
Parchman
Patti L. Parchman, 84, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, in San Antonio. She was born in Beeville
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Parchman, and daughter, Sandy Duncan.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Ann Parchman, Clydene Harris and Lynn Walton; two sons, Jim and Russell Parchman; a sister, Elsie Mitchell; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at 1 p.m. Monday at Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio.
Peña
Candelario Luna Peña, 87, of Beeville died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 o’clock this evening (Wednesday) at the Angelus Funeral Home chapel.
Rosary will be recited at 7 o’clock tonight at the Angelus chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. James Catholic Church, with Father Balaswamy Pasala officiating.
Burial will follow in Beeville Memorial Park.
Mr. Peña was born Feb. 2, 1914, in Soto La Marina, Mexico, to Manuela (Peña) and Loureano Luna. He married Gregoria De La Garza in Matamoros, Mexico. She preceded him in death on Nov. 5, 2001. He had been employed as a laborer and was a member of St. James Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Maria Guadalupe Luna of Beeville; a son, Leonel Luna of Houston; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.
Angelus Funeral Home
Sparks
Chester Franklin Sparks, 89, died of congestive heart failure on Dec. 29, 2001, in a Reston, Va., nursing home. He was born Aug. 22, 1912, to Willie and Ed Sparks on Indian land in Choctaw County near Hugo, Okla. He lived in Los Angeles, Calif., and married Florence Sonnenberg in 1935. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942.
He fought in World War II and the Korean War and served on the USS Lexington, USS Ranger and USS Philippine Sea, in addition to numerous Fleet Air Training Commands. He also held a private pilot’s license. His final duty station was at NAS Chase Field in Beeville. He retired in 1962 with the rank of chief petty officer and lived in Beeville from 1958 until 1999, when he and his wife moved to Reston.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Florence; his only child, Julie Kesteloot of Reston; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A graveside service with military honors will be held in Arlington Park National Cemetery at 10 a.m. Friday.
Arrangements are under the direction of Money and King Funeral Home in Vienna, Va.
