Glenn Tierce Whitfill

OBITUARY

CATE-SPENCER & TRENT FUNERAL HOME

403 Locust, Sweetwater, Texas 79556

(325) 236-6717 FAX: (325) 236-6719

website: www.catespencertrent.com

e-mail: jackiet@suddenlinkmail.com

Glenn Tierce Whitfill, age 81, of Sweetwater, Texas, passed away March 5, 2011 at Abilene Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at First Christian Church with Pastor David Stevens officiating.  Burial will follow at Sweetwater Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Glenn Tierce Whitfill was born August 6, 1929 in Lockney, Texas to Frank and Cassie (Tierce) Whitfill, Floyd County pioneers. After graduation from Lockney High School, Glenn married Ruby Jewel Nichols, daughter of Alvin and Louzilla (Cox) Nichols on July 6, 1947 at her parents' home near South Plains, Texas. They lived in Floyd County and farmed until 1957, when the family moved to Mathis, Texas, where he began his career with Ralston-Purina dealerships.

He moved to Sweetwater in 1960 where he and his wife Ruby worked for the local Purina dealership, Porter Feed Company. They purchased the business in 1969 and changed the name to El Rancho Feed Company, Inc. They sold the dealership in 1984 and moved to Lake Sweetwater. Glenn was a musician, and for many years he had his own band, playing mandolin and bass guitar. He then joined the Bonnie Workman Band for 25 years and later played with  Claude French's band, The Drifters. They played for various senior dances, musicals and at nursing homes. During summers in Ruidoso, New Mexico, he played with the Good News Band at the J-Bar-J Country Church. He also played with the Good News Band at church services during the annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso. He was a member of First Christian Church in Sweetwater and J-Bar-J Country Church in Ruidoso.

He held several civic appointments in Sweetwater and the surrounding area. He served on the boards of Bitter Creek Water Supply, including a term as superintendent; Sweetwater Livestock Show, which was dedicated to him in 1980; the Sweetwater Auditorium; and the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce. After moving to the lake, he helped organize the Lake Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief and later Advisor. A plaque in his honor hangs in the LSVFD fire station. Art was one of his hobbies, and one of his paintings hangs in the Pioneer Museum in Sweetwater. At the time of his death, he was on the nominating committe of the Taylor Electric Cooperative.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruby. His children include daughters, Judy Allen of Gulf Breeze, Florida; Cindy Michaels and husband Terre of Garland, Texas; Ann Seay and husband Melvon of Seminole, Texas; and Patricia Hamra and husband Kent of Lewisville, Texas. Grandchildren include Davvyonnae Krehl and husband Matthew of Pensacola, Florida; Stefanie Michaels of Little Elm, Texas; Spencer Hamra of Lewisville, Texas; Amy Bates of Irving, Texas; Nick Mays of Odessa, Texas; Tasha Perkins and husband J.D. of Odessa, Texas; Bobby Landrum of Odessa, Texas;  Cristine Cummings and husband Tim of Arlington, Texas; Keslie Holt; and Austin Holt.  Great-grandchildren include Makayla Krehl of Pensacola, Florida; and Ethan Wilmore of Lewisville, Texas. He is also survived by a brother, James Whitfill and wife Marie of Plainview, Texas; a sister, Martha Jennings and husband Melvin of Tulia, Texas; several nieces and nephews; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cassie Whitfill; a brother, Forrest; a sister, Dorothy; and daughter, Sue Landrum and husband Robert.

Pallbearers will be Sam Kenney, Waylon Pyburn, Tony Ham, Santana Archuleta, Henry Ortega, and D.J. "Cotton" Rister.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory, Abilene, Texas 79601.