IN MEMORIAM 1938 Bernard Shelan, 96, died Nov. 21, 2012. He was born July 17, 1916, in St. Louis and grew up in Philadelphia and later, Roscoe, Texas. He hitch-hiked to Abilene to join the ACU football team as a 115-pound walk-on running back with the nickname of “Mousie,” setting a kickoff return record that stood for 20 years, and earning a scholarship. Bernie served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and married Sylvia Krawitz in 1943. They took over Shelansky’s Dry Goods, the family’s landmark business in Roscoe. Bernie was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold Shelan and Bobby Shelan. Among survivors are his wife of 69 years, Sylvia; three sons, Ronald Shelan, Charles Shelan and Evan Shelan; seven granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren. Maxine (McCaleb) Hill, 94, died July 10, 2011, in Sugar Land. She was born March 26, 1917, in Idabel, Okla., and married Landon Hill (’36) Nov. 5, 1938. She taught reading in the Abilene ISD for 25 years after raising her children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Landon; her twin sister, Geraldine (McCaleb ’38) Shultz; and another sister, D’Nola (McCaleb ’44) Holding. Among survivors are three daughters, Judy (Hill ’64) Avera, Jill (Hill ’67) Giesecke and Jana (Hill ’75) Rizzuto; two sons, Dr. Jick (’73) and Jeff (’77) Hill; 12 grandchildren, eight of whom attended ACU; and 21 great-grandchildren.
1946 Evelyn Cox Templeton Fletcher, 88, died Jan. 10, 2013, in Abilene. She was born Jan. 9, 1925, in Fisher, Ark., and grew up in Clovis, N.M. She married Ed Templeton May 4, 1945. He preceded her in death in 1980. Evelyn married Dr. Milton Fletcher (’47) June 25, 1985. He died March 20, 2013, in Fort Worth (see page 79). Survivors include two sons, Richard (’73) and Steve (’78) Templeton; three stepsons, Eric (’72), Keith (’76) and Paul (’79) Fletcher; a stepdaughter, Phyllis (Fletcher ’82) McNiel; a sister; four grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.
1949 Idus England, 91, died May 28, 2012, in Shawnee, Okla. He was born March 30, 1921, in Gans, Okla., and served in the Quarter Master Corps during World War II. He married Winifred Broyles (’51) in 1946. Idus served as a minister for Churches of Christ in Texas and Oklahoma for more than 50 years. He is survived by his wife, Winifred; two daughters; a son; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Harry Mancel Whitlow, 86, died Sept. 23, 2012, in Amarillo. He was born April 10, 1926, in Temple. He worked for 38 years in management at Pantex, until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte (McLaughlin ’48) Whitlow; two sons, Charles (’74) Whitlow and Dow Whitlow; two daughters; two sisters, Celeste Morris and Thelma (Whitlow ’56) Gibbons; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
1950 John Tyson Sr., 86, died Oct. 17, 2012, in Abilene. He was born Jan. 26, 1926, in Agnes, Texas, grew up in Saginaw and graduated from high school in Fort Worth. He served in the Navy from 1944-46 as a lookout aboard the USS Colorado, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for bravery in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippine Islands. He earned a B.S. degree in business from ACU. After graduation, he worked as a civilian instructor at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls and later, with the Social Security Administration in San Angelo and Fort Worth, retiring in 1988. He married Frances Stewart
(’49) June 23, 1956. Following her death June 10, 1993, he cared for his mother-in-law, Lucy Stewart, and his mother, who lived with him in his home until their deaths in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He served as a deacon, elder, and Bible class teacher at congregations in Wichita Falls, San Angelo, Hurst and Abilene. Among survivors are a son, Dr. John Tyson Jr. (’81); a daughter, Lu Anne Tyson (’83); and three grandchildren.
1952 Margaret King Ragus, 82, died Oct. 5, 2012, in Lubbock. She was born June 17, 1930, in Nashville, Tenn., and grew up in Memphis. She married Pete Ragus (’51) Dec. 15, 1949. She worked in the Lubbock ISD for 17 years. Margaret is survived by her husband, Pete; four daughters, Margaret Ragus (’73), Donna Orr, Kay Ragus and Barbara Gross; a son, Jim Ragus; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandsons.
Delma attended ACU in her 40s and worked as a dorm mother at Nelson Hall for five years. She married William “Clinton” Brazle (’77) in 1972. He survives her, as do a son, former ACU trustee Herb Butrum (’71); two daughters; four stepsons, Mike, Mark, Paul (’77) and Peter Brazle; 31 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
1967 Judith Ann (Riggins) Barker died Sept. 15, 2012. She taught English in the Brandywine School District of Wilmington, Del., for 19 years. She is survived by her husband, J. Michael Barker (’65); a son, Nathan Barker (’91); a daughter, Kymwauna Mayazi; and three grandchildren.
1968
Peggy Jean Davis Terry died Aug. 16, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Doug Terry; three daughters, Janis (Terry ’84) Collins, Diane Terry (’86) and Kay Lynn Schultz; and a son, Jim Terry.
Linda (Fowler) Francis, 66, died Dec. 30, 2012. She was born Aug. 26, 1946, in Vernon and married Pete Francis Aug. 21, 1976, in Dallas. She served her church and community in many ways. Linda is survived by her husband, Pete; a son, Jeff Francis (’01); a daughter, Jennifer Francis (’03); her mother, Sue Fowler; a sister, Rebecca Fowler; and one granddaughter.
1955
1969
James “Jim” Edwin Shafer, 84, died Oct. 16, 2012, in River Bend, N.C. He was born Sept. 19, 1928, in Brownwood and married Norma Jean Dickson in 1954. He earned master’s degrees in biochemistry and psychology, and worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 30 years. He married Iris Shafer in 1982. She survives him, as do three daughters, Leslie Shafer (’80), Mary Wilkins and Sarah (Shafer ’89) McCord; a son, John Shafer; three stepchildren; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Forrest David “Dave” Odom, 72, died Aug. 25, 2012, in Abilene. He was born Sept. 17, 1939, in Jacksonville and grew up in Sweetwater. He served in the Marine Corps from 1957-61 and married Judy Amundson (’69) July 19, 1970. He later earned a master’s degree in education from ACU and spent many years teaching computer classes. He is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons; a brother; a sister; and two granddaughters. Dan Frost died Feb. 5, 2012, of a stroke. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU, then worked as a history teacher at Gladstone High School in Gladstone, Ore. He is survived by his wife, Gae Frost; a daughter, Gina; a son, Ty; and other relatives. Curtis Ray Foster, D.D.S., 64, died Feb. 12, 2012. He was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Artesia, N.M. He earned his D.D.S. from Baylor College of Dentistry and practiced dentistry in New Mexico and Texas. Curtis is survived by his wife, Sharon; his mother; two brothers; three sons, Jeremy (’98), Micah (’03) and Bron Foster; two daughters, Misty Carpenter and Brooke Foster; two stepchildren; seven grandchildren; and his former wife, Linda (Judkins ’70) Foster.
1953
1957 B.B. Stevens, 78, died Nov. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth. He was born Jan. 19, 1934, in Mineral Wells and married Geraldine “Jerry” Pierce Dec. 26, 1952. He served as a Church of Christ minister, worked as director of development at a foster home, and later ran a trophy shop. He sang baritone in the Gospelaires quartet for more than three decades. B.B. is survived by his wife, Jerry; a daughter, Stephany Stevens; a son, Brad Stevens (’82); three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
1958 Leon E. Tester, 90, died Nov. 8, 2012. He was born April 4, 1922, and attended Cascade College before serving in the Navy. He married Marion Anderson Aug. 5, 1949. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU. Leon and Marion spent eight years as missionaries in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and adopted two Brazilian children. Marion preceded Leon in death. He is survived by two sons, Jon Tester (’87) and Claude Tester, and five grandsons.
1960 Neil Sconiers, 75, died Aug. 10, 2011, in Iraan, Texas. He worked as a teacher, coach and principal, and served as Pecos County Commissioner. He is survived by his wife, Alicia (Holmes ’57) Sconiers; two daughters, Necia Graham and Sandra Sconiers (’94); two sons, John (’84) and Joe Sconiers (’86); and two granddaughters, Morgan (’12) and Peyton Sconiers (’15).
1965 Robert “Dwain” Adcock died Sept. 23, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Joy (Kirkpatrick ’69) Adcock; a son, Lance; a daughter, Keri; and two grandchildren.
1966 Delma Louise Barrett Butrum Brazle, 91, died Sept. 16, 2012, in Bozeman, Mont. She was born Dec. 30, 1920, in Webb City, Mo., and grew up in Texas. She married Harold Butrum in 1939. He preceded her in death in 1962.
1973 Dr. Phillip Wayne Smith, 61, died Aug. 27, 2012. He was born Sept. 30, 1950, in Augusta, Ga., and married Lena Mae Schnaubert (’75) July 1, 1972. While at ACU, he was a four-year letterman on the football team. He served as minister for Churches of Christ in Texas and Ohio until his death, and also worked as an insurance agent. He is survived by his wife, Lena; a son, Chad Smith (’96); a daughter, Angie Carnes; two sisters, Parmella Smith (’74) and Juanita Smith; and five grandchildren.
1978 Eileen Laverne (Pace) Schmidt, 59, died Feb. 29, 2012 in Collierville, Tenn. She was born Dec. 31, 1953, in DeKalb, Ill. Prior to earning her B.S.Ed. degree from ACU, Eileen was the first woman to graduate from the preacher training school at Great Lakes Christian College in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. She married Gary Schmidt (’80) Dec. 20, 1980. Eileen did mission work in Costa Rica for two years through ACU’s MARK program. She is survived by her husband, Gary; a daughter, Brionne (Schmidt) Beckman; her father, Rue Pace Sr.; a sister, Laura Wilson; and a brother, Rue Pace Jr. She was preceded in death by her mother, Coravallene Pace, and a sister, Corinne Durfee.
1979 Walker Don Weathers, 54, died July 16, 2012. He was born Aug. 21, 1957, in Columbus, Miss., and grew
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