Rance Durward Obenchain

Services celebrating his life will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy. 277 S. in Abilene. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories where he will be laid to rest with his wife Shirley. The visitation will be on Tuesday evening at the funeral home from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Rance was born on March 15, 1936, in Menard, Texas. He was the oldest of three children born to the late Durward Frank Obenchain and Elsie Mildred (Smith) Obenchain. He grew up in Menard and attended local schools. He followed in his father’s and grandfather's professional footsteps and became a home painter. He married Evie J. Rainwater, and they had one son, Charles Wayne. He later married Maybelle Williams and together they had two daughters, Mildred and Meschelle. He married Betty Rowan Spicer and together they had one son, Rance, Jr. He then married Bobbie S. Clark; they had no children. He then married Shirley Wise, and they became one family, as he loved her children as his own. After Shirley's passing, he wore his wedding ring until his death.

Rance loved fast cars of all kinds. He enjoyed racing them in his younger years and working on them until he had them just how he wanted. He had a heart of gold and loved all his family. Rance was loyal to those he cared about. He will be remembered driving his special 1962 Chrysler, chewing on a cigar and listening to his favorite bluegrass music.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Meschelle Obenchain; and wife Shirley Obenchain.

He is survived by his children, Charles Wayne Obenchain, Mildred Oise Martin, Rance Obenchain (Faith); his bonus children, Jessie, John, Jeff, Shannon, Alan, Rocky and Melody Wise; his grandchildren, Merenda, James, Leandra, Nicholas, Christine, Olivia and Cody; several great-grandchildren; his sisters, Ina Joyce and Helen Doreen Coutu; a host of nieces and nephews; and other relatives and special friends.