1928–2015. He was born at his house and he died at his house. But what a life in between. The dash "-" says it all. He started life in the middle of a dusty field in Stanton Texas, a sharecropper's son. Extremely poor, he was made fun of and bullied a big portion of his childhood. But the conflicts made him stronger and the troubles he went through made him into the finest of men.
He did so many things in his life. He picked cotton, he helped his dad in the dairy business, he hitchhiked from Stanton to Odessa and started in the oil field. Leaving the oil field he, he discovered his true passion which was selling things. He started with ice cream and one day while he was selling ice cream to grocery stores he met the girl of his dreams, the woman he would one day marry. From ice cream, he went to crackers and cookies and from crackers and cookies he went to promotional advertising. In between those career moves, he married Mom and had me and then Billy. He became a church member, and not just a church member but a deacon and an adviser in his church. He became a teacher filled with wisdom and he helped mold and shape young lives and young marriages. He and mom were so good together, a true team. He started an advertising business that is still in existence today as well as buying rental property. He was ambitious but not overly. He simply wanted to provide a good life for his family because he remembered the young days of his life and going hungry. The "–" included the greatest personality in the world, not knowing a stranger, A handshake for everyone, and making each person feel like they were the most important person he knew. He was a great gift of encouragement to others.
He had a hand in the starting point of ministry to several young preachers, and then he decided he had that special calling as well. He became a licensed minister and pastored a church in Andrews Texas for 12 years. He then went to crane and pastored there for 18 years. I think the greatest grief he had before he lost mom was having to retire from the ministry. That was his true purpose and that's what made life so important to him. He wanted to help hurting people.
After his retirement, the dementia started to creep in and slowly but surely took over his life. Losing mom did not help. His heart was broken with her loss. They were never apart. They were married for 60 years, they started a business, they went everywhere, did everything together. They did not have separate lives. They were always holding hands. And it was really true love. As they grew older others would comment, "Look, they still hold hands", and they would laugh about it. "We are holding hands so we both don't fall." My dad helped us all have a better sense of humor. Dad is the last of the first generation of our family. Most of his friends are gone. He has lived long and he has known what it is to be with and be without. We are here today because of dad and the life he lived. Thank you, dad, for living with morals, for having integrity, for having a loving heart, and for being a man of God.
He is survived by his son, Billy Stroud of Odessa, daughter, Rona Bowerman of Odessa, & (4) grandchildren.
We would like to say thank you to Star Hospice who helped us take care of dad and keep him safe and comfortable. Thank you to our friends for your support and kindness. We have said goodbye but heaven is saying hello and welcome. I could not ask for more.
His service is Thursday, January 22 at 1:00 pm at the 1st United Pentecostal Church. Visitation will be Wednesday night at Hubbard Kelley Funeral Home from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18