Louis Edward (Ed) Mabe Jr.

Longtime resident L. E. (Ed) Mabe passed away, March 26, 2011 at his home. Mr. Mabe was born May 13, 1924 to Louie and Annie Karr Mabe, Sr. in Crosbyton, Texas. A 1941 graduate of Levelland schools, he worked after school at Wacker Stores and continued there until he went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company in Odessa in 1942. He returned to Levelland and was drafted in 1943.

Mr. Mabe served in the U. S. Army at Camp McCain, Mississippi and Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. He was deployed to the European front in England and France and was later assigned to General George Patton’s 3rd Army. He saw duty in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and 1945. During his service, Ed Mabe received his battlefield commission of Second Lieutenant and was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. After V-E Day, he was assigned to occupation duty until July when he left France for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Mr. Mabe was reassigned to the 5th Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky and was later discharged in May 1946.

Returning to Levelland at that time, he married Nanny Mae

“ Sparkye” Redden in November 1946. He started working at the CO-OP Refinery. Shortly, he returned to Wacker Stores and opened a new store in Jal, New Mexico in 1948, serving as Manager. In 1951, Ed began his career with El Paso Natural Gas and continued until 1986 when he retired from what was then Meridian Oil. He lived in Jal, New Mexico, Shamrock, Texas, Farmington, New Mexico and later Kermit, Texas. He and Sparkye moved back to Levelland in 1999 where they resided until his death. They are longtime members of the Church of Christ.

Mr. Mabe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, J. R. Mabe, and his favorite sister, Sis (Eleanor) Wolfe. A devoted husband, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sparkye in January 2011. Ed leaves behind his daughter, Michelle Mabe of Levelland, Texas; grandchildren, Ivan Bridges and his wife, Yvonne of Odessa, Texas and Rana Lively and her husband, Mike of Midland, Texas and his great-grandson, Austin of Midland. He also leaves behind his nephew, Doss Mabe of Pasadena, California, his nieces, JoAnn Gaines of Wichita Falls, Mary Sledge of Warda, Texas; Carole Mabe Williams of Durango, Colorado, Nancy Ritchie of Nocona, Texas and many great-nephews and great-nieces. There will be a deep void left by this well-respected and kind, much loved man who had a tremendous sense of humor, a genuine persona of humility and a deep abiding love for his family and friends.

Interment with military services will be at 2:00pm, Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in City of Levelland Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice of Lubbock, Hockley County Meals on Wheels or the Disabled American Veterans.

To join the family in celebrating Ed’s life, please go to www.georgepricefunerals.com