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Rita Cox
ODESSA — Rita Cox, 89, died peacefully just before 1 p.m. Sunday, May 28, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital, with her friends, Eleoweese Elder and Sister Margaret Ledwith, as well as her nephew Tom L. Cox III and his wife, Linda, at her side.
Miss Cox retired from education in 1975 following a 44-year career that included four years teaching third grade in Mexia, a move to Odessa in 1935 where she spent 16 years teaching business courses at Odessa High School, and an additional 24 years as secretary to the Ector County Independent School District superintendent. Miss Cox was a decades-long member of First Baptist Church and was loved and respected by the congregation.
Miss Cox will be honored by her family and friends in a celebration of her life at funeral services to be held at 11 a.m. this Saturday morning, June 3, 2000, in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors, 4635 Oakwood Drive, Odessa, Texas. Burial will be in the Cox family plot in Mexia, Texas.
Visitation with family members present will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel.
The 11 a.m. services will be conducted by her friend and neighbor, Medical Center Chaplain Margaret Ledwith. Miss Cox’s friends are invited to share their special memories, stories or thoughts with the assembly during the celebration service.
Born Aug. 22, 1910, in Richland, Texas, Miss Cox was a 1927 graduate of Mexia High School.
She graduated from Baylor University in 1931 with a bachelor of arts degree in history with honors. She held a Lifetime Professional High School Texas Teacher Certificate, and during her teaching career, took postgraduate courses from the University of Texas, the University of Colorado and the University of Southern California.
A member of the Texas State Teachers Association and the American Association of University Women, she was instrumental in developing the local chapter of the Texas Educational Secretaries Association (TESA) and served as the first chapter president in Odessa. She served as state treasurer of TESA in 1958 and as vice president in 1959. She was a longtime member of the Zeta Kappa chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Miss Cox is predeceased by her mother and father, Willie Pearce and Tom L. Cox Sr.; sisters, Mildred Cox Mein and Elise Cox; and her brother, Tom L. Cox Jr.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lola Willis Cox; niece, Rite Kay Cox Upshaw and her children, Katherine and Paul Lencioni; nephew, Jim W. Cox and his twins, Mathew and Michael Cox; and nephew, Tom L. Cox III and his children, Kristine Cox Wentworth and James K. Cox; as well as by her great-great niece/nephews, Brittany and Daniel Wentworth, Zachary Cox and Ethan Cox. In addition, Miss Cox leaves three surviving first cousins, Elton Bresenham, Rilla Bresenham Jarrett and R.B. Pearce Jr.
Tax deductible donations for Odessa High School girls going on to study business in college may be made in memory of Rita Cox by check to the ECISD Education Foundation, noting on the check "Memo" line: In Memory-Rita Cox: OHS Girls’ Business Scholars. Mail to: ATTN: Linda Lentz, ECISD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 951, Odessa, Texas, 79760.
Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.
Ruby Nell Wilson McGee
ODESSA — Ruby Nell Wilson McGee was born July 11, 1937, in Spur to B.C. Wilson and Winnie Lois Owens Wilson. She passed away on May 31, 2000, in Odessa.
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday June 2, 2000, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Weeks Dubose officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Ms. McGee was a longtime Odessa resident. She was a member of the Odessa High School Broncho Booster Club and also a member of the West Odessa Baptist Church. Ruby had retired May 20, 2000, after 40 years with Southwestern Bell Telephone.
Survivors include her son, Clyde McGee and his wife, Marianne, of Fort Stockton; a daughter, Kathalene Swindle and her husband, Ricky, of Odessa; her stepmother, Pat Wilson of Odessa; four sisters, Roxie Cain of Colfax, Iowa, Lynette Fowler of Crosbyton, Clydene Hull of Ruidoso, N.M., and Rhonda Wight of Odessa; her grandson, Sean Patrick McGee of Fort Stockton.
The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.
Services are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.
Margarita Heredia Mendoza
ODESSA — Margarita Heredia Mendoza, 73, of Odessa died Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital.
Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2000, at Martinez Funeral Home. Burial will be at Rose Hill cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel.
She was born June 10, 1926, in Midland. She was a homemaker and Catholic.
Survivors include her husband, Carlos Mendoza of Odessa; son, Mario Mendoza of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughters, Yolanda Mendoza, Corina Rodriguez and Lucema Mendoza, all of Odessa; brothers, Ismael Heredia, Julian Heredia and Alfredo Heredia, all of Crane; sister, Alvesa Rodriguez of Odessa; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Julian Heredia; mother, Cruz Vigil; and sons, Carlos Mendoza Jr., Danny Mendoza and David Mendoza.
Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Home.
B.M. "Tommy" Thompson
ODESSA — B.M. "Tommy" Thompson, 89, of Odessa passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital.
Tommy was born Oct. 5, 1910, in Altoona, Ala. He attended grammar and high school in Altoona. He worked in his father’s business due to very few employment opportunities during the Great Depression. The call came in 1943 to serve in the military for World War II. He took infantry basic training at Fort McClellan, Ala., only 50 miles from home. He applied and was accepted at the infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga. After a brief stay at Fort Hood, he was sent to the Philippine Islands and served as an infantry First Lieutenant until the war ended. He was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and elected to stay in the army reserves. He served twice on extended active duty, once at Fort Campbell, Ky., and once at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Tommy was a member of the Masonic Fraternity over 60 years; he was a past master and past secretary of the home lodge. He was also a life member of the Paul Mahoney Post 4372 V.F.W. in Odessa. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Lacy Standifer Men’s Bible Class.
He came to West Texas in 1953. He married
Eloise Williams, county school librarian, Aug. 15, 1958.
He worked as a sales representative for two supply companies until 1966. He worked as a realtors associate until 1976 and then retired.
Survivors include his wife, Eloise Thompson of Odessa; brother, Dr. W.D. Thompson of Trussville, Ala.; sister, Sarah T. Mackey of Pompano Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2000, at the First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Bill Heggemeier and Dave Pistone officiating. Military graveside services will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Mike Morrison, Rex Talley, John Goodman, Eddie Gilbro and Keith Bailey.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of Lacy Standifer Bible Class.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Bonnita Lauderdale Taylor Hirst
ODESSA — Bonnita Lauderdale Taylor Hirst was known to her many friends as "Bonnie." She died peacefully May 8, 2000, at Parks Methodist Retirement Village. Bonnie was born July 31, 1916, in Alix, Ark., to Hollie Morgan Moore and Robert Moore.
Bonnie was a resident of Odessa since 1947. She was employed at the old S&Q Clothier’s (later Quicksilver’s) as a bookkeeper/credit manager, and later worked for Orbit Valve Company for 14 years.
She was active in and served as past president of Odessa Desk and Derrick. She was a licensed and certified drug abuse and alcoholism counselor. She was active in AA and spoke at and attended many conventions nationwide. She was also active in Odessa Chamber of Commerce as a Goodwill Ambassador for a number of years. In the latter years of her life, she enjoyed being a member of the Senior Citizens Dance Club of Odessa.
She is survived by her husband, Art Hirst of Odessa; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Scorp Boyles of Del Rio; stepson and daughter-in-law, Ron and Jodi Taylor of Del Rio; sister, Velma "Mac" Williams of Odessa; niece, Becky Forbus of Odessa; nephews, Marty Williams and Michael Williams; and four grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; and grandson, Steven Smith.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Ernest Easley officiating. Burial will follow at Andrews West cemetery in Andrews.
Service entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Abelardo "Abe" Tercero
ODESSA — Abelardo "Abe" Tercero, 65, passed away Monday, May 8, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital.
He was born on April 1, 1935, in Marfa. A former manager for the Model Shop, he was also employed with Shorty Hall Rig Co.
Mr. Tercero was preceded in death by his mother, Dometila Tercero; and his brother, Adalberto Tercero.
He is survived by his wife, Lorina Tercero of Odessa; sons, Richard Tercero and his wife, Delma, Rudy Tercero, Adam Rubalcado and Orlando Rubalcado, all of Odessa; daughter, Lisa Tercero of Odessa; his father, Pedro Tercero of Farmers Branch; brother, Jose Tercero and his wife, Gloria of Snyder; sisters, Lucy Fuentes and her husband, Rufus, of Odessa, Maria Elena Tercero Natividad of Farmers Branch; and grandchildren, Ricky, Rudy, Tiffany Patino, Daniel, Rachel, Dinah Tercero and Jerica Morales.
Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 11, 2000, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark Woodruff officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill cemetery.
Pallbearers are to be Rudy Tercero, Adam Rubalcado, Richard D. Tercero, Ricky Patino, Albert Casias and Larry Murrufo.
Services are by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel.
