Albert Wayne Culp
1933 - 2016
Albert Wayne Culp, 82, passed away Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 at his home in Medina following a hard fought battle with cancer.
Al was born Nov. 16, 1933 in Gatesville, to Virgil Ray Culp and Cornelia (Susan) Calhoun Culp.
He was raised in Lamesa, but travelled many places in his lifetime while racing horses. He later retired in Medina where he and his wife, Ilona, established Culp's Cedar Creations.
Al's passion was horse racing, which also provided material for his gift of telling stories, of which he had many.
Like his mother, Susan, he enjoyed meeting and talking with people. Whether in the barn shed row or later sitting in front of the cedar shop visiting with those stopping to look at the Culp's beautiful cedar furniture, Al never met a stranger.
He passed knowing what was most important in life - his family and friends - which were a tremendous source of comfort and joy with their visits and phone calls throughout his illness.
Albert is survived by his wife, and loving caregiver, Ilona Culp, of Medina; brother Ned Culp and wife, Connie, of Howe; daughter, Becky Jo Baber and husband, Bill of Byers, Texas; three sons, Wyndel Culp and wife, Deha, of Lamesa; Mark W. Culp and wife, Nicole, of Aledo; and Ron Culp and wife, Rani, of Carlsbad, New Mexico; stepdaughter, Rhona Moses of Kerrville; six granddaughters, five grandsons, three great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons, nieces, nephews, cousins and many treasured friendships. He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Ray Van Culp.
A "Remembrance" of Al's life has been tentatively planned for Saturday, April 30, in Lamesa for family and friends wishing to share special memories of him.
Remembrances may be sent to the Medina United Methodist Church, PO Box 208 or the Medina Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., PO Box 1650, Medina, 78055.
Mae Belle Walsmith
1916-2016
Mae Belle Walsmith, 99, of Bandera, passed away Monday, Feb. 1, in Fredricksburg.
She was born on May 1, 1916, in Peaster to Virgil and Callie McCarty.
Mae Belle is survived by her daughters, Vanessa Ellen Walsmith and Royce Bea Maxfield; sons, Virgil Lee Walsmith, Herschel Lester Walsmith and Garry Nolan Walsmith; and sister Vernell Rogers, as well as by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Lee Roy Walsmith, and parents.
A Celebration of Life was be held at 10 am, Saturday, Feb. 6, at Grimes Chapel of Bandera with Mr. Martin Smith officiating.
Bruce O. Woodall Jr.
1950-2016
Bruce O. Woodall Jr., 65, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 3, at his home in San Antonio, following a short battle with cancer.
He was born in Kingsville on August 10, 1950, to Bruce O. Woodall Sr. and Lounell Sory Woodall.
After serving eight years in the United States Army, Bruce attended chiropractic college, graduating in 1981. He moved to Bandera in 2000 and relocated to San Antonio in 2009.
Bruce is survived by his father, Bruce O. Woodall Sr., of Bandera; children, Ashley Woodall, St. Louis, Missouri; Chris Woodall, New Jersey; Josh Woodall, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Daniel Woodall, Round Rock.
He was predeceased by his mother, grandparents and an uncle.
A visitation will be held between 11 am and 1 pm, Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Heart of Texas cemetery, 1830 South Presa, in San Antonio. Memorial services will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20, at a location to be determined later.
Ruth Pickering Meador
1927-2016
On Wednesday, Feb. 3, Ruth Pickering Meador, 88, died peacefully at Christopher House in Austin.
She was born in Missouri to Ralph and Thelma Pickering on Oct. 15, 1927.
Early in Ruth’s childhood, her family moved to Crane where her father worked in the oilfields.
After skipping several grades, she graduated from Crane High School as valedictorian at age 14. She attended business college and worked to support herself. Ruth then entered nursing school in Galveston after scoring the highest grade ever recorded on the entrance exam.
While in Galveston, she met and married
George Meador, MD. The couple moved to Lansing, Michigan for George’s medical internship. At age 20, Ruth became head nurse of a unit in Lansing, Michigan.
George and Ruth then settled in Bandera in 1950 where they remained for the rest of their lives. Ruth used her nursing skills to assist George in the management and medical aspects of his practice.
The couple had a first child, Ricky Ruth, in 1950 and 18 months later, a son, George Dee.
Generous and philanthropic, Ruth donated her time as a Girl Scout leader and library volunteer. She gave to many causes, including school and county libraries, Silver Sage Community Center, Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital and the Bandera Junior Livestock Stock Show & Sale. In January, Ruth was honored with the Alton Reinengar Award, which recognized her contributions to the stock show over the years.
An outdoors woman and hard worker, Ruth and her husband tended a beautiful and fruitful garden; and enjoyed fishing, bird watching and traveling with friends.
She avidly read a wide variety of books, magazines and news publications. Not surprisingly, early on, Ruth learned how to use a personal computer and used it to keep in touch with friends and family and for research on anything that interested her.
She is survived by her children, Ricky Walker of Bandera and Dee Meador of Austin; grandchildren, Roxanne Walker, Emily Meador, Nancy Grandgeorges, Rachel Schwartz and Benjamin Meador; and three great-grandchildren, Tatiana, Thomas and Charlie.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband, sister and parents.
Memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Bandera County Library, PO Box 1568, Bandera 78003.
Ellis Ritchie
1931-2016
Ellis “Tito” Ritchie, 85, of Bandera, passed away on Friday, Feb. 8.
He was born in Eagle Pass on Jan. 12, 1931, to Johnnie and Alex Ritchie. Ellis married
Kathelene Rodgers on Nov. 5, 1954, in Poteet.
A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, and later became an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
As a young man, Ellis enjoyed farming in Eagle Pass and retired from Civil Service.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Kathelene; daughter Patty Stovall and her husband, Wes; sons, Jesse Ritchie and his his wife, Trinka, and Wade Ritchie and his wife, Charla; sister Jessie Hunter; grandchildren, Levi Evensiosky, Aaron Evensiosky, Tana Martin, Todd Ritchie, Corey Ritchie, Casi Ritchie, Harlee Ritchie, Keyla Phillips, Blake Alanis and Caleb Gunnells; and great-grandchildren, Emma Evensiosky, Dylan Zinsmeyer, Ethan Martin, Cobe Martin, Zaiden Turner, Kenton Phillips and Kase Phillips, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.
Ellis was predeceased by his mother, Johnnie Harvey; stepfather Duffy Harvey; father Alex Ritchie; and brothers, Lawrence Ritchie and Luther Ritchie.
Visitation will be held from 10 am to 11 am, Saturday, Feb. 13, at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera with funeral services beginning at 11 am, that same day. Burial will follow at Pipe Creek cemetery.
Susan Louise McCracken
2016
Susan Louise McCracken, 61, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 18, after a short battle with cancer. Surrounded by family, she passed away at her home in Pipe Creek.
Susan is from George West where she met and married
her husband, Ricky McCracken.
She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and built a career as an adult probation officer. In 2009, Susan retired as a supervisor with Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department.
In the years following her retirement, she continued her love and knowledge of quilting. Susan was very proud and dedicated to her work, and it showed through the many awards she won.
She was an active member of the Church of Christ in Bandera.
Susan is survived by her husband of 39 years, Ricky McCracken; daughters, Cresta Marietta and her husband, Chad, and Amanda McCracken; grandchildren, Alexa andVance Marietta; mother Ellen Jane McCarley; and sister Wanda Heiligman and her husband, John, as well as by numerous other family members and loved ones.
Susan was predeceased by her father James Paul McCarley.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 am, Saturday, Feb. 27, at Grimes Chapel with Jim Heiligman and Martin Smith officiating.
