Raymond T. Smith
1919-2010
USAF, Retired
Raymond T. Smith, 90, of Pipe Creek, passed away on Tuesday, August 17, at his residence.
He was born in Black Rock, Arkansas, to Harve and Elsie Smith on Dec. 22, 1919, who preceded him in death.
Raymond married
Loura Belle Newcomer on Feb. 14, 1943.
After graduating from school in Black Rock, he enjoyed a 30-year military career in the United States Air Force. After retiring in 1971, Raymond served on the board of the Bob Hope Village in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
In addition, he devoted time to help the widows of Air Force enlisted men.
Raymond is survived by his wife; Loura Bell “Buzz” Smith; sons, Gerald Smith and his wife, Elda, of Pipe Creek; C. William Smith and his wife, Linda, of Arlington, Virginia; Robert Stephen Smith and his wife, Deborah, of Fairfax, Virginia; and Daniel Richard Smith and his wife, Ellen, also of Fairfax; and sister Edwina Sue McBride of California, as well as nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 23, at Boerne Second Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Burial followed at the Fort Sam Houston National cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
Lt. Col. Richard William Thornber Sr
1929-2010
Lt. Col. Ret. Richard William Thornber Sr., 81, of Kerrville, passed away Wednesday, August 18, in a San Antonio hospital.
He was born August 11, 1929, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Hubert E. Thornber and Winifred Griffith Thornber.
Lt. Col. Thornber retired from the United States Air Force.
He was a member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Bandera. He loved to cook and read in his Lazy Boy recliner – especially history novels. He also loved his water gardens.
Survivors include his companion, Shirley Mounsey, of Kerrville; sons, Richard Thornber of Houston, and Robert Thornber and his wife, Judy, of San Antonio; sister Ann Thornber of Charlottesville, Virginia; and grandchild Laurie Thornber.
He was preceded in death by wife, Amelia Thornber.
Memorial services were held Wednesday, August 25, at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, officiated by Rev. Russel Matthews. Graveside services followed at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park in New Braunfels.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.
Robert Louis Keepers
1952-2010
Robert Louis “Bob” Keepers, 57, of Lakehills, passed away on August 21, 2010, at his residence.
He was born in San Antonio to Frederick T. and Ella Rozelle Johnson Keepers on Oct. 10, 1952. His parents preceded him in death.
Bob graduated from MacArthur High School in San Antonio. He married
Deborah Renae Glover on March 10, 1984, in Corpus Christi.
He loved to hunt and fish and watch college football. Bob also spent every weekend at the lake.
Bob is survived by wife, Deborah Keepers, of Lakehills; daughter Kourtney Rozelle Keepers and son Bert Keepers, both of San Antonio; brother Fred Keepers and his wife, Susie, of Lakehills; nephews, Rusty Keepers and Randy Keepers; and niece Lisa Keepers, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Hudson Keepers.
Memorial services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, August 28, at Bedrock Resort and Lodge of Medina Lake.
Memorial gifts may be sent to The Salvation Army.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
John Spencer Self
1917-2010
John Spencer Self, 92, passed away on Monday, August 16, in Bandera.
He was born on Dec. 12, 1917, on his family’s home ranch on Bear Creek Road in Kimble County.
John first met his wife at Junction High School and the couple later married
. He and his brother both served in the United States Navy during World War II.
An employee at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, John retired in 1971. Shortly after retiring, he built a home in Bandera River Ranch – the eighth home he had lived in full time.
John relocated to Bandera County because his mother had been raised in the Medina area. Her family – the Tobeys – had arrived in 1888 on one of the last wagon trains traveling through the county.
John was a hard-working man who is loved and who will be missed.
He is survived by his daughters, Virginia “Ginger” Stutes and her husband, Columbus, and Barbara Jean Thompson; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldean Daniels Self; parents, Silas Monroe Self and Sarah Ellen Toby Self; brother Clarence Martin Self and his wife, Mary; and sisters, Rennie Ellen Kellogg and her husband, Potan, and Norma Lee Watson and her husband, Frank.
John will be buried in Junction City cemetery.
Marilyn T. Whilden
2010
Marilyn T. Whilden of Utopia passed away recently.
In 1944, she graduated as a registered nurse from New Rochelle Hospital, New Rochelle, New York. She spent most of her nursing career as a psychiatric nurse. In 1969, Marilyn was honored as Nurse of the Year.
Her husband, Slim, was an officer in the United States Navy and the couple traveled extensively prior to his retirement.
After the death of her husband in 1995, Marilyn resided in Lake Tahoe, California, to be close to her children – and the poker tables. In 2005, she relocated to the family ranch in Utopia where she had spent a great deal of time with her husband of 47 years.
Although she suffered from macular degeneration, Marilyn remained an extremely competitive Scrabble player and continued to enjoy early morning swims in the Sabinal River with her daughters.
She will truly be missed as a strong matriarch, best friend and lover of cold water and as a person who brought others into her world with love, warmth, a wonderful sense of humor and her beautiful smile.
Survivors include her seven children, Scott T. Whilden of Lake Tahoe, California; David D. Whilden of Lakeside, California; Wendy L. Dorsey and Claudia W. Hough of Bandera; Jody W. Blumenfeld of Utopia; Beth Ann Whilden of Kerrville and Donald C. Wood of Fountain Valley, California, as well as 10 grandchildren.
A private service was held at the family ranch on the Sabinal River in Utopia. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Marilyn Whilden to the Utopia EMS would be greatly appreciated.
