Marjorie Arthur, 91, who joined FUMC on February 14, 1971, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2012.  Her service will be:

• Sunday, January 15, 2012
• 2:00pm
• In the FUMC Sanctuary
• Rev. John Dillard will officiate
• Owens & Brumley will direct the proceedings

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Please, keep Marjorie’s family in your prayers.

Leave a note below about what Marjorie meant to you.

Bob Ringle, 81, who joined FUMC on March 29, 1981, passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.  His service will be:

• Friday, December 16, 2011
• 11:00am
• Owens & Brumley Chapel
• Rev. John Dillard will officiate.

Bob was born January 26, 1930, in Independence, Kansas. He moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in 1933. He graduated from College High School in 1947 having played baseball for the school team and trombone in the orchestra. He attended Oklahoma A&M University, where he met and fell in love with Mary Patricia Troop. They wed on August 9, 1952. Bob earned a BS in Personnel Management in 1952, and returned to his alma mater to obtain an MBA in 1960.

Upon his graduation in 1952, Bob was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served in active duty until his retirement in 1973 as a Lt. Colonel. During his years with the U.S.A.F., Bob attended Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and Academic Instructor Course after which he was retained as an instructor for five years.

Of his civilian jobs, he was most proud of his years as Personnel Director at Midwestern State University. He left MSU and retired for good in 1997. During his many years as a Wichita Falls resident, Bob was an active member of the Wichita Falls North Rotary Club, First United Methodist Church, Win-Some Sunday School Class, and United Way of Greater Wichita Falls.

Bob was a loving and genuinely compassionate man with a rare skill for making homemade peach ice cream. His passion for golf was second only to his love of family, especially his grandchildren. He liked to tell jokes, work in the yard, and watch the Texas Rangers.

Bob is predeceased by his wife, Pat; parents, Otho A. Ringle and Fern Ringle; brothers, Delbert and Dean and sister, Doris. He is survived by his two sons and one daughter, and their families: Rob and Amy Ringle of Frederick, Maryland; Alan and Michele Ringle of Bossier City, Louisiana; and Nancy and Stafford Jones of Cedar Park, Texas. Grandchildren include Rebecca, Erica, Alison, Sara and Andrew.

Bob will be missed by any and all who knew him.

The family expresses sincerest thanks for the loving care provided by Hospice of Wichita Falls and special thanks to the caregivers at The Gables of Rolling Meadows, who were our parents’ “second family.”

Please, keep the Ringle family in your prayers.

Leave a note below about what Bob meant to you!

Gladys Ross Blackburn Boyd, 97, who joined FUMC on August 19, 1945, died Tuesday, December 6, 2011, in Plano, Texas.  Funeral services will be:

• Monday, December 12, 2011
• 10:00am
• At the chapel of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home
• With the Rev. John Dillard officiating.
• Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home.

Mrs. Boyd was a retired accountant and office manager.

Survivors include son, Larry Ray Boyd of McKinney, Texas; two grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to

First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls
909 10th St
Wichita Falls, Texas 76301-3411.

Leave a note below about what Gladys meant to you.

On December 4, 2011, First United Methodist Church welcomes the family of David and Susie Tanner along with their son, Andrew as new members! The Tanners have found a home in the Aldersgate Class that meets on the third floor at 9:15am and Andrew is in the School For Little People.

Jean Ellis, 97, who joined FUMC on February 9, 1986, passed away on November 24, 2011 at Presbyterian Manor. Funeral services:

• Monday, November 28, 2011
• 1:00pm
• In the Chapel of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home
• Rev. Paul Goodrich and Rev. John Dillard officiating.
• Interment at Restland Cemetery in Olney under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home.

Jean was born on June 1, 1914 to W. C. and Mary Jane (Sanders) Harrell in Newcastle, Tex. She graduated from Olney High School and later attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. On May 14, 1935, she married O.M. (Coe) Ellis in Olney. Jean worked as the bookkeeper for the family business, Coe Ellis Gifts and Appliance in Archer City. After moving to Wichita Falls she worked as a secretary for the Wichita Falls Independent School District. The couple was blessed with two children. Jean had been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls since 1972 where she was a member of the Keystone Sunday School Class and a long time member of the Chancel Choir. She directed the choir at the First United Methodist Church in Archer City and later directed the choir at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls. She was a member of the Musicians’ Club in Wichita Falls. Jean was a long time volunteer for the Camp Fire Girls and was awarded Camp Fire Girls’ Guilick Award.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband O.M. (Coe) Ellis and her son Billy H. Ellis. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Lupia and husband Dick of Lubbock; three grandchildren, Bill Lupia of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greg Lupia and wife Lydia of Austin; Jane Mueller and husband Chris of Austin; and six great-grandchildren: Caroline, Elliot and Ethan Esquivel, Peyton Moreland, Greyson and Jackson Lupia all of Austin.

The family expresses gratitude to the nurses and staff at Presbyterian Manor Health Care and to the nursing staff of Hospice of Wichita Falls for the loving and efficient care provided.

Memorials in honor of Jean Ellis may be made to:

First United Methodist Church Music Ministry
909 10th St
Wichita Falls, TX 76301-3411.

Leave a note below about what Jean meant to you. . .

Lera Joyce Baldridge Riggs Ansley, 88, who joined FUMC on April 6, 1947, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011.

Funeral services will be:

• Friday, November 4, 2011
• 2:30pm
• First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls
• Rev. Paul Goodrich will officiate.
• Entombment will be in Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Mrs. Ansley was co-owner and operator of Ansley Appliance and the Lamplighter.

Survivors include children, Linda DeArmond of Possum Kingdom Lake, Carol Stewart of Arlington, Texas, Shelli Skinner of Comanche, Okla. and Will Ansley of Frisco, Texas; sister, Sue Spradling of Fort Worth; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to

Hospice of Wichita Falls
4909 Johnson Rd
Wichita Falls, TX  76310

First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls
909 10th Street
Wichita Falls, TX  76301

Please keep the family and friends of Joyce in your prayers, and feel free to leave a note below about what Joyce meant to you!

Helen Arnold, 99, who joined FUMC on July 10, 2005 passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011 in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Visitation will be:

• Tuesday, October 11, 2011
• 7:00-8:00pm
• Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home

Here are the details on her graveside service:

• Wednesday, October 12, 2011
• 1:00pm
• Crestview Memorial Park Cemetary
• Rev. John Dillard will officiate
• Internment will be under the direction of Hampton Vaughan

Mrs. Arnold was born the oldest of ten children on July 9, 1912, in Falls County, Texas, to the late Jessie James Mercer and Emma Christine Lisette (Wolf) Mercer. She graduated from Ben Hur (Texas) High School in 1931. She was raised and worked on the family farm until the age of 24 when she moved to Roswell, N.M., and continued farm labor until her marriage to Robert C. Arnold on June 14, 1941. In 1954, Robert’s job as a long distance truck driver took them to Hobbs, N.M., and finally, to Albuquerque, N.M., in 1963 where they lived for 40 years. They then moved to Wichita Falls in 2003 and it was here that Robert preceded her in death in 2004.

Mrs. Arnold joined the First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls. She was active as a Girl Scout leader in Roswell from 1949 until 1954; in Hobbs from 1954 to 1956. In 1958 and early 1959, she helped prepare her daughter and 15 other Senior Girl Scouts from Zia Girl Scout Council for the 1959 Girl Scout Roundup held at Colorado Springs, Colo., in July of that year. Helen was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Survivors include a daughter, Christina Peterson and husband, Harvey of Wichita Falls; siblings, Cleo Mercer, Houston, Texas, Laura Hasbrouck, Alamogordo, N.M., William J. Mercer, Kingsburg, Calif., and Freda Lynch, Pasadena, Texas; grandchildren, Kathy Naidicz, Austin, Texas, Brian Peterson, Wichita Falls, John DiFilippo, Burkburnett, Texas, Michael Peterson, Cudahy, Wis., Angeli Fernandez and Robert DiFilippo, both of Wichita Falls; great-grandchildren, Darvena Day, Shelby DiFilippo, Macie DiFilippo and Madelynn DiFilippo; great-great-grandchildren, Lorenzo de Mario Juarez and Angellina Day; also numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by siblings, Pauline Mercer, Maureen Arnold, Gladys Alexander, Thomas Mercer and Walter Mercer.

The family suggests memorials to

American Lung Association
8150 Brookriver Dr
Dallas, TX  75247;

or

Wild Bird Rescue
4611 Lake Shore Dr
Wichita Falls, TX  76310.

Please, keep her daughter, Chris Peterson, and the rest of her family in your prayers.

Mary Patricia “Pat” Ringle, 78, who joined FUMC on March 29, 1981, died Tuesday, September 20, 2011.  Currently, her service is set for:

• Friday, September 23, 2011
• 11:00am
• Chapel of Owens & Brumley
• Rev. John Dillard will officiate.

Born January 29, 1933 in Oklahoma City, OK to parents Mr. & Mrs. Vernon R. Troop, Pat attended public schools in Oklahoma City, graduating from Classen High School in 1950. She attended Oklahoma State University for two years
studying home economics. She married Robert D. Ringle on August 9, 1952. She passed away September 20 and is survived by her husband and by two sons and a daughter and their families: Rob and Amy Ringle of Frederick, MD; Alan and
Michele Ringle of Bossier City, LA; and Nancy and Stafford Jones of Cedar Park, TX; and five grandchildren, Rebecca, Erica, Alison, Sara and Andrew. A kind soul, devoted wife and mother, Pat will be missed by those who have loved and known her.

Please, keep her husband Bob and their family in your prayers.

Luke Preston Ritchie was born to Josh & Laura Ritchie (and proud grandma, Kay Preston) on Friday, September 9, 2011.  At birth, he weighed 9lbs, 13oz and was 22.5 inches in length.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Did you know our very own Jim Hoggard has had a book published by Wings Press entitled, The Mayor’s Daughter? Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

In the north Texas oil-boom town of Kiowa Falls, civilization is just beginning to overtake frontier chaos. Ru-Marie, the daughter of the town’s mayor, is a well-read, young romantic and budding artist. Her tastes in love—her parents insist—are less refined. As they throw off the sham of sophistication, a family war erupts and, with it, frontier justice. Set in the 1920s, this novel utilizes several means in order to recount the intriguing events, including first-person accounts, letters, an interview, and murder trial excerpts.

“In the 1920s, a murder rocks a small Texas town. . . . There, artistic high-schooler Rue-Marie Coleman falls in love with Buster Lopreis. . . . Hoggard uses a variety of strategies to build up to his violent climax, combining straightforward narrative with what Ru-Marie conveys to John Evening through interviews.”  —Booklist