Winburn Osborne Hunter, 94
years of age, left this life on October 11, 2005.
Following is W.O.'s obituary information provided
to his family and written by W.O. Hunter himself...
"Casper Evan Hunter and Nannie Rebecca (Osborne)
Hunter, the parents of W. O. Hunter, homesteaded a
farm in Guymon, Beaver County, Indian Territory, OK
and built their home which was then termed a
half-dugout. This means the house was buried in the
earth up to the bottom of the windows. Three
children were born while they lived here; Zellinor
Peruda in Indian Territory 1905, Zuriel Karon, state
of Oklahoma 1907, and Winburn Osborne, state of
Oklahoma 1911. In 1914 they sold the farm and moved by covered
wagon to Plainview, TX where a daughter, Mary
Francis, was born in 1914. A year later they moved
again by covered wagon, bringing some livestock
along, to Tucumcari, New Mexico where another son
was born, Charles Eli, 1916. W.O. got his schooling in Tucumcari, NM, Melrose,
NM, Clovis, NM then Amarillo, TX. In 1928 the family
moved to Oklahoma City, OK where W.O. started a
career in the furniture manufacturing business. In Oklahoma City he met and married Maxine
Elizabeth Raymer. They became the parents of four
children, Betty Jean, Margaret Ann, Rae Arlene and
Gerald Vance. They had been married approximately 27 years, the
daughters were married and the son was in military
service, when they decided to take a
spur-of-the-minute mini-vacation to visit relatives
in Wichita Falls and Oklahoma City. However, a
terrible accident happened on the way near Lawton,
OK when a car, driven at high speed, ran a stop sign
and hit the Hunter car broadside causing it to turn
over several times. Maxine died in this accident. He later met Mary Ann Hedricks Ciruti and they
began dating. Both had been married previously, both
spouses were deceased, both had children; his were
grown and hers (Kim Norwood, Stephen Kelley, and
Katherine Anne) were young. In 1965, they decided to
get married and he adopted her children. They had
been married over 36 years and the children are
grown and married with children of their own.
World War II started December 7, 1941, at which
time W.O. Hunter was still in the furniture
manufacturing business in Houston. The Government
immediately froze all production of metal for
anything that did not go into the production of war
materials. This meant that good furniture could no
longer be built, so he started looking for a
temporary job because he thought he would eventually
be drafted. He did not volunteer because he had four
small children. In 1942, the City of Houston was holding civil
service exams for fire and police applicants, so he
took the examination and on October 6, 1942, he
began his career in the Fire Dept. at Station 18 on
Telephone Rd and Leeland. In places where he had
previously worked you had to know your job or didn't
last long, so he bought books and began to study
everything he could about municipal fire
departments, pumpers, ladder trucks, etc. When he had been in less than two years, he took
the examination for chauffeur and made the third
highest grade. Although 14 promotions were made, he
didn't get one of them. He had never had an interest
in politics. The City Civil Service had no teeth or
legal status. Regardless of promotional
examinations, promotions were made at the discretion
of the Fire Chief. At this time, Fire Dept. salaries were extremely
low, so to make ends meet he worked on many part
time jobs, sometimes loading ships down at the docks
(when he was working daytime at the Fire Dept.) He
finally got a full time job as Fire Chief for the
Hughes Tool Strut Plant. In the City Fire
Dept. he worked one-week days and one-week nights
and did the same thing at the Strut Plant. When he
worked days at the City Fire Dept. he worked nights
at the Strut Plant and vice versa. It was his job at
the Strut Plant to check all sprinkler and hose
systems and the fire pumps and water reservoir and
to train three shifts of plant firemen and three
shifts of plant guards in firefighting procedures.
He held both these jobs until the plant closed at
the end of the war. After he had been on this job for about four
months, a fire equipment salesman brought the Fire
Chief and Asst. Chief of the Houston Fire Dept. out
to show all the technical fire extinguishing and
fire prevention equipment. This is where W.O. first
met the Fire Chief The Chief told him on the spot
that he was being promoted to Chauffeur. The training officer at this time was Roy B.
Whittlesey, and he often came by the station and
discussed training procedures and ways the
department could be improved. Later, when Chief
Whittlesey became Chief of the Fire Dept., he moved
W.O. to the training division in an acting position,
with the rank of District Chief for the express
purpose of writing and publishing a Fire Dept.
Training Manual. He, along with Chief Training
Officer Grover C. Adams, prepared and published the
manual. In 1948, the State Legislature enacted a state
Civil Service law for policemen and firemen, with a
provision that everyone in a position or acting
position be certified in the position with full
civil service rights; thus, he became a full-fledged
District Chief training officer. This meant that in
his 29 years in the Fire Dept., 25 of those years
was as a chief officer. About 1950, the City of Houston annexed several
large subdivisions, including volunteer fire
departments, which placed a tremendous burden on the
training division to train the firemen needed for
the expansion of the department. He and Chief Adams
trained hundreds of recruits during the next two
years.
Later, when an opening came for Deputy Chief he
took the civil service examination and came out with
the highest score, beating his next rival by 6
points. The Fire Chief at that time didn't want to
promote him because of his lack of experience in a
district and asked him to turn it down, which he
did; but asked to be sent to a district, which he
was. Later an examination for Deputy Chief and for
Assistant Chief came open and he took both
examinations and came out #1 on both of them. He was
promoted first to Deputy Chief and the next day to
Assistant Chief. In 1965, the department was in political turmoil.
The Mayor suspended the Fire Chief and appointed W.
O. Acting Fire Chief. A short time later, the Mayor
appointed W.O. Fire Chief, saying Chief Hunter was
the best person to get the department up and
running, and he did."
______________________________
W.O. is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann
Hunter; his children, Kim Hunter, Kelley Hunter and
wife, Carolyn, Katherine Hunter-Walton, Betty
Windham, Margaret Willardson, Arlene Matthews,
Gerald Hunter; many loving grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren;
other loving relatives; and a host of friends.
WINBURN O. HUNTER, 94, husband of Mary Ann, left
this life on October 11, 2005. Visitation will be
held Friday, October 14, 2005 from 7-9 PM at
Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home. A Funeral Service
will be held Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 10:00 AM
in the Chapel of Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home.
Online tributes and further obituary details at
www.cyfairfunerals.com.
|
Harry Paul Hanagriff
J,
born May 18, 1959 passed away April 12, 2009. He is
survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Debbie Harlow, daughter; Brandy Rooth and husband Ron, sons; James Harlow, Jr. and wife Jessica, Travis
Harlow and wife Amber, grandchildren; Avery, Darrah, Payton, and Karrah,
parents; James and Virginia Harlow, sisters; Terri Perricone and husband
Phillip, Christie Harlow, brother; David Harlow and wife Pam; and many
aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He loved sports of all
kinds and was a devoted hunter and fisherman. He served with The Houston Fire
Department for 29 years, 3 months, 15 days. James will posthumously receive
the Medal of Honor from the Houston Fire Department and the Medal of Honor
from the International Association of Firefighters. Visitation will be held
Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Grace Community
Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77034 (713) 363-2500. Services
honoring the fallen firefighters will be held Thursday, April 16, 2009, at
10:00 a.m. at Grace Community Church.
Senior
Captain Donald Bundy Hanks, Houston Fire Department, passed away
peacefully on December 14, 2013 at the age of 93 years old. He is
survived by his wife of 68 years, Arlene Hanks, his daughter Darlene
Hanks-Villarreal and son-in-law James Villarreal, his son Donald Hanks
Jr., and grandchildren Bradley Hanks, Lauren Hanks, and Dakota
Villarreal. Visitation will be 4:00-8:00PM, Wednesday, Dec 18th, at
Forest Park Lawndale. Funeral services will be at 10:30AM, Thursday, Dec
19th, at Forest Park Lawndale. 
C.V.
(Van) Hemphill of Montgomery, TX passed away on January 5, 2013. Van was
born on January 18, 1942 in Houston, TX to Doyce A. Hemphill and Louise
Wilson. He graduated from M.B. Smiley High School where he excelled in
sports, specifically football. He attended the University of Arkansas. Van
was a Vietnam Veteran who proudly served our country in the U.S.
Sam
Edward Henley, Jr., 72, passed away October 23, 2005. Visitation Friday,
beginning at 12:00 Noon followed by Funeral Services
at 1:00 PM in the Titus & Timothy Barnes Cathedral Chapel. Rev. John Morris,
Officiating. Interment - Houston National Cemetery.
Louis
N Hill Jr.
"He
fought a good fight, He has finished the course, He kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7 MR. THEODORE "Ted" HILL, SR. Alpha May 27, 1948 Houston,
Texas Ted peacefully entered into Eternal Rest on Wednesday, January 21,
2009 after courageously battling cancer for the past 2 years. He was a
Texas Southern University graduate. He retired from the Houston Fire
Department after 21 years of service. He most recently served as a safety
supervisor with the City of Houston. Ted is survived by his loving wife of
38 years, Lynda; his son, Theodore Hill Jr.; his daughters, Wendy Ford
(Kirk) and Melanie Hill; his two grandchildren, Kirklyn Ford Jr. and Leah
Ford; his mother and father, Virgin and Louis N. Hill Jr.; his brothers,
Louis Hill, III (Ora), Xavier Hill (Nathell), Reginal Hill (Debra), Dana
Hill, Virgal Hill (Marie); his sister, Amelia Hill; the Lemond family and
a host of other relatives and friends. His grandparents preceded him in
death. The family would like to send a sincere appreciation for the
kindness and care extended by the Methodist Hospital and Hermann Hospital
under the direction of Dr. Robert Amato and the staff at TIRR and Vitas
Hospice. And a very special thanks to Dr. Herman J. Mabrie III and his
staff. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM Tuesday, January 27,
at St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugarland, Texas,
Rev. Drew Wood, celebrant. Visitation will be Monday in the Rose Chapel of
Mabrie Memorial Mortuary from 1 until 8 PM., Monday January 26th. The
rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM.
Damion Jon Hobbs, born December 24, 1978, passed away April 12, 2009. He is
survived by his father; Jon Hobbs of Alvin, TX; mother; Joyce Webb of
Florence, TX., love of his life; Crystal Marin of Pearland, TX., sisters;
Janice DeShazer and husband Tim, Tammy Hobbs, and Shiela Hobbs all of Alvin,
TX., step-sister; Danielle Moon of Austin, TX., step-brother; Levi Webb of
Austin, TX., grandmother; Ruth Johnson of Cleveland, TX., as well as
numerous nieces and nephews. Damion was born and raised in Alvin, Texas. He
graduated from Alvin High School in 1998. He proudly served our country with
ten years of military service where he
achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served with the Houston Fire
Department for 1 month, 15 days. Damion will posthumously receive the Medal
of Honor from the Houston Fire Department and the Medal of Honor from the
International Association of Firefighters. Visitation will be held
Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Grace Community
Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77034 (713) 363-2500. Services
honoring the fallen firefighters will be held Thursday, April 16, 2009, at
10:00 a.m. at Grace Community Church.
Doyle
Holder, (54, born Sept. 15, 1952) beloved husband and father, went to
be with his Lord, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 after a brave battle with Non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Judy and their
two daughters, Robyn Beasley and husband Jason, Kimberly Elliot and
husband Daniel; sister, Evelyn Parrish and husband Gene; father-in-law,
John Denton; sister-in-laws, Peggy Connally and husband Hulit, Sandy White
and husband Gordon, Sue Gates and husband Larry; numerous nieces and
nephews. Doyle retired from the Houston Fire Department last year after 35
years of service. He and Judy traveled and enjoyed their grandchildren,
Bailey Elliott, Rebecca and Tyler Beasley very much. His "babies" were the
highlight of his day and they will miss their `Papa's" regular trips to
the mall for the carousel ride and cookies. The family would like to
extend appreciation to The Odyssey House Hospice Unit of Conroe for their
loving support and care during this time. Visitation will be from 5:30-9
:00 PM Feb. 27, 2007, at Brookside Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be
conducted at 10 AM, Feb. 28, 2007, at Brookside Chapel. Interment to
follow at Brookside Memorial Park.
Philip
John Hudgens, Sr., 61, of Porter, Texas passed away at his home
surrounded by his family and close friends on July 27, 2016. 
Captain
James David Hale born August 21, 1926 in Dallas, Texas went home to be with his
Lord on March 20, 2013 with his family at his side. He attended Woodrow Wilson
High School and served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army during World War II
and Korean War. 
RAYMON
ROLAND HARRISON, SR., 88, of Katy, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2014. He
retired as Assistant Chief in 1988 after 41 years of service in the Houston Fire
Department. He is survived by his daughters, Gwen Thompson, and Brenda Dobbs and
her husband Frank; daughter-in-law, Carol Harrison; grandchildren, Raymon Roland
Harrison, III, Tabatha and Brady Bellard, Amber Harrison, Amanda Harrison,
Andrew Harrison, Luke and Alisha Satterwhite, Kristy and Isaac Steadman, and
Lori Thompson; nine great grandchildren; as well as other loving family members
and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frieda Kay Harrison on July
2, 2001; a son, Raymon Roland Harrison, Jr. on December 12, 2001; sister, Maxine
Clifton; and brother, Floyd Harrison. The family will receive friends from 5:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the Schmidt Funeral Home
Chapel, in Katy. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
September 3, 2014, at the Westland Baptist Church, in Katy, with Pastor Roy
Meadows officiating. Interment in Memorial Oaks Cemetery.Condolences may be
expressed at www.SchmidtFuneralHome.net. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=Raymon-Roland-Harrison&pid=172315639#sthash.yFqy3riz.dpuf
Walter
O. Harris, Jr., 84, of Galveston, passed away Monday, August 11, 2014, at The
Meridian Care Center. He was born September 3, 1929, in Houston, Texas. Walter
served his country as a firefighter in the US Army in Jama, Japan. Upon his
return to the US, Walter worked for the Houston Fire Department for 26 years
before retiring. He then moved to Arkansas and spent 8 years as a Maytag
salesman before returning to Houston to work for Philip Morris, retiring after
10 years. Walter was a charter member of the Lindale Park Masonic Lodge in
Houston. He moved to Galveston in 1996 to be closer to his daughter and her
family and was a member of West End Baptist Church, where he sang in the
choir.Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Walter Harris, Sr.;
and two sisters, Rebecca Liner and Bobbie Thornton.He is survived by his
daughter, Sherelyn Harris Taylor; granddaughter, Tammy Heffernan and husband,
Kelly; great grandchildren: Blaine Patrick Heffernan and Riley Paige Heffernan;
sister, Opal Sanford; special friend, Doris Malone; and extended family members,
the Rogers and Malone families.Walter's family will receive visitors beginning
at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 16th, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. A graveside
service will begin at 11:30 am at Galveston Memorial Park in Hitchcock.The
family wishes to extend special thanks to Pat Cook for her weekly visits with
Walter, as well as the staff of Hospice Care Team, especially Walter's nurse,
Linda, for her compassionate care.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
Hospice Care Team, 1708 N Amburn, Texas City, TX 77591. 
Warren
D. Hataway went to be with our Lord and Savior on June 24, 2014. He was preceded
in death by his mother, Loretta M. Giberson, sister Sandra Weber, and
grandmother Clarice Hataway. He is survived by his wife Shirley Annette Hataway
and daughter Misty Cone and husband Paul; daughter Sarah Hataway; daughter
Rebecca Holt and husband Kelly; daughter Whitney Jackson and husband Michael;
grandsons Alex and Christian and granddaughter Emma Cone; and, granddaughter
Hannah and grandson Hunter Holt.
Harrell
Ray Hayes, 87, of Tarkington Prairie, passed away peacefully at his home on
Saturday, May 25, 2013, with his family at his side. He was born March 13, 1926,
in Celeste, TX, to Floyd B. and Tressie (Milton) Hayes. He married Mozelle
Mathews on November 4, 1946 in Greenville, TX. Harrell was a hard working
husband, father and grandfather. He retired from the Houston Fire Department in
1979, after 27 years of service as a firefighter. After retirement, he and his
wife Mozelle, owned and operated Shade Grocery in the Tarkington community for 9
years. Harrell proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was a
great and respectable man who will be truly missed by his family and all who
knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Opal Hayes. He is
survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Mozelle Hayes; daughters, Kathy Darby
(and Curtis), and Karen Blum (and David); grandchildren, Dalton Blum, Sydney
Blum, Colton Darby and Cameron Darby; and honorary son, Guy Koenig. Funeral
services were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 27, 2013, at Pace Stancil Funeral
Home Chapel, Cleveland, TX, with Rev. Harold Blum officiating. Interment
followed at Oak Shade Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Blum, Dalton Blum, Curtis
Darby, Colton Darby, Cameron Darby and Guy Koenig. Honorary pallbearers were
Frank Gilbert, Kenneth Bryan, Harold Hendrix and Milton Parks. 
Louis
Bernal Halvorsen, passed away on February 27, 2004 in
Houston, Texas. A native Houstonian, born on August 11, 1927
to parents Oscar and Maria Halvorsen. Louis a veteran of
WWII and a 32 year veteran of the Houston Fire Department,
leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, commitment to
work, goodwill to his fellow man, an infamous twinkle in his
eye and a million dollar smile. He was most happy
contributing his time and talents to the St. Philip of Jesus
Parish. After he became afflicted with Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Louis found solice through his devotion to the Rosary and
quiet retreats at the Holy Name Retreat House with his
fellow members of the Holy Name Society. A beloved and
devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to the
community. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mercedes
Gonzalez Halvorsen, his 9 children: Louis Halvorsen, Jr.,
Martha C. Halvorsen, Patricia Wise and husband David, George
Halvorsen, Maria Del Carmen Comis and husband Dennis, Marie
Alexandra Hickey and husband Patrick, Laura Bray and husband
Mike, Augustine Halvorsen and John Halvorsen; 16
grandchildren and 1great-granddaughter; brothers: Mike
Halvorsen and wife Linda, Oscar Halvorsen and wife Emma and
James Halvorsen and wife Angelita and numerous nieces and
nephews. The family would like to invite friends for
visitation from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Monday, March 1, 2004 with
a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at Earthman Resthaven Funeral
Home, 13102 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060. A mass of
christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday,
March 2, 2004 at St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church, 9700
Villita, Houston, Texas 77013. Followed by a rite of
committal at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the
Arthritis Foundation. Memorials or " In Honor Of "
donations can be made by contacting Lillian Smith, National
Office, at 404-965-7696 or e-mail: Ismith@arthritis.org or
the Houston Fire Department Scholarship Fund.