Sandra Nadine Ruthardt
June 3, 1935 — May 25, 2023
Sandra Nadine Ruthardt, 87, of Bledsoe passed from this life on May 25, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in the Krestridge Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the City of Levelland Cemetery.
She was born June 3, 1935 in Morton to H.L. (Boots) and Margaret Helen (Chastain) Fitzgerald. Sandra was a member of Bledsoe Baptist Church in Bledsoe.
Sandra was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Floyd Ruthardt; daughter, Katherine Lynn Ruthardt; parents, H.L. (Boots) and Helen M. Fitzgerald; and siblings, Glenda Smith and Lynn Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her sons, Donald Joe Ruthardt and wife Roseland, Darryl Kim Ruthardt and wife Kelli, and Kenneth Ray Ruthardt and wife Stacy; 13 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Benjamin De La Rosa
January 13, 1964 — May 22, 2023
Benjamin De La Rosa, 59, of Whiteface passed from this life on May 22, 2023. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
He was born in Morton on January 13, 1964 to Fidel Chavez De La Rosa and Theodola Ornelas De La Rosa. Benjamin graduated from Three Way High School before attending South Plains College. After graduating from SPC, he went on to Texas Tech University where he obtained his bachelor degree in accounting.
Benjamin loved his dog, Fancy. He enjoyed all genres of music and gardening, especially growing his pineapple plant and various cacti. Benjamin had a love for art and treasured his Salvador Dali print, which he referred to as his pride and joy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fidel and Theodola De La Rosa; and siblings, Robert, Johnny and David.
Benjamin is survived by sisters, Oralia (Raul) Munoz and Virginia (Joe) Honesto; brother, Samuel (Janie) De La Rosa; and several nieces and nephews.
Robert Louis (Bob) Martin
May 24, 1937 — May 20, 2023
Robert Louis (Bob) Martin answered the Lord’s roll call on May 20, 2023. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 25,2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Krestridge Funeral Home Celebration services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Levelland at 2PM on Friday, May 26,2023 with interment to follow in the Levelland City Cemetery.
Robert Louis Martin was born to Thomas C. and Elizabeth Martin on May 24, 1937 in Lamesa, Texas. He and his 2 brothers, Tom and Dick, grew up together as loving and caring individuals while living in Welch, McCarty (both in Dawson County) Los Angeles, San Antonio (during WWII), in Lamesa, and later in Slaton, Texas.
Bob graduated from Slaton High School, in 1955. While attending there he participated in all sports and school plays. An ardent sports fan, he attended Texas Technological College in Lubbock. Working at various jobs, he put himself through college. It was during that time, he met Linda Sue Smith, who would become his loving wife and companion, for the rest of his days. They were married on July 18, 1959 in Slaton, and for the next 62 plus years they “toured the world” together visiting every state of the union, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Soon after they married, he accepted a coaching/teaching position, even though he had not finished college. He began a coaching career in September of that year in Memphis, Texas, where he and Linda’s daughter, Phyllis was born in 1960. The threesome moved to Littlefield 4 years later, where Robert (Rob) Louis Martin, Jr. was born in 1966. That fall, the family moved to Slaton, Texas and 3 years later, Bob ended his coaching career by accepting a position of Assistant High School Principal in Levelland, Texas.
Robert, or Bob as he became known, served as High School Assistant Principal, then as Jr. High Principal for 5 years, and High School Principal for 18 years, helping to graduate more than 4,000 students. In 1994, he became the Executive Director of Administrative Services for the Levelland School District, and later served as Deputy Superintendent. In 1999, he was selected as Superintendent of Schools for Levelland, where he was instrumental in the building of the Levelland Middle School, the ABC school building, as well as helping the district acquire the land to build a new Lobo Stadium.
He was a state officer for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals for 6 years and served at State President of that organization in 1993. He became a life member of both the TASSP and the NASSP. He served on Governor John Connally’s Committee of Sixteen, where he gathered information for his Master’s Thesis on the Social Studies Curriculum of Texas. He also represented Texas on the General Electric Roundtable on Education in Washington, D.C. and worked with Governor Ann Richards in passing legislation that created ADE schools in the State of Texas. During this time he received advanced graduate credit in Education from San Diego State University and from Miami University. He served the Texas Education Agency for 4 years as an accreditor in the Texas State School Initiative. He wrote several articles for professional publications and spoke at various organizational meetings across the country. He retired in 2004 after 45 years in the field of education.
Bob was a life member of Lion’s International, TSTA, NEA, and TRTA. He was a Gideon, a Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Levelland, where he taught Sunday school classes for young people and later for adults.
After his retirement, he continued to serve his church and community on various boards and committees. He was the Hockley County Representative on the Office of Dispute Resolution Board of Advisors where he served as Vice-Chairman. He was a licensed Mediator for the State of Texas for over 25 years.
Bob wrote and published his first novel in April of 2015. He loved to tell stories, remained active in golf and fishing, as well as in church and community activities until May 2023.
He loved teaching, working with teachers, and kids. His personal motto was, to have a place “where good things happened for kids, every day.”
Survivors include his wife, Linda; daughter, Phyllis Hopp and husband Tony; son Robert Jr.; grandchildren, Rachel and Ryan Skillman, Keaton Robin, Garrett and Pepper Hopp, Jennifer and Tommy Dunn, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Delfina G Martinez
May 12, 1954 ~ May 14, 2023 (age 69)
Delfina, was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother , and grandmother. She married Santos Aguirre Martinez on February 27th, 1972 in Mathis , Texas and they had four children from this union. They moved to Sundown from Mathis in 1975 where they’ve lived. Delfina, worked as a CNA Certified Nurse’s Assistant and home health care provider for a couple of years. Her hobbies was to go shopping, playing bingo, lottery tickets and scratch offs. Cooking for her whole family. Enjoyed watching Urban Cowboy her favorite movie, old westerns series like Gun Smoke, Little House in the Prairie. Spending time with all her grandchildren. She shall be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Proceeded in Death by:
By her spouse of 30 years: Santos Aguirre Martinez
Survivors:
Daughter: Angelica Martinez (George Peralez) of Lubbock
Sons: Jesse (Gaby) Martinez of Whiteface, Martin (Antonia) Martinez of Sundown, and Santos Martinez Jr. of Lubbock
Grandchildren: (11) Max, Jesse, Jericho, Nevaeh, Zailee, Georgia, Michael, Christina, Nieves, Alex, Elijah
Miguel Angel Franco
August 2, 1974 ~ May 5, 2023 (age 48)
Miguel Angel, was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and uncle .He graduated from San Marcus, Texas. He married Griselda Acevedo, on June 18th, 2014 in Levelland. He owned and operated Muleshoe Equipment Company for several years. His hobbies were listening to Old Country music and listening to blue grass gospel, looking at Car Magazines, working on cars, dancing , and spending time with his dog Ghost, drinking coffee, storytelling, and cooking outdoors and hosting parties, enjoyed being the center of attention, reading the bible, traveling to Memphis, Tenn., and Washington D.C. and loved his grandchildren. A devout Baptist and a served his Lord.
Proceeded in Death by:
Sister: Jessica Franco in 1997
Survivors:
Parents: Jose Francisco and Angela Franco of Morton
Spouse of 8 years: Griselda Acevedo Franco of Levelland
Daughters: Celeste Franco (Westton) Owens and Roxanna Franco both of Wolfforth, Tx and Iliana (Jose) Onofre of Lubbock, Tx
Sons: C. J. Riddle of San Antonio, Tx and Noah Riddle of Levelland
Brothers: Tony (Isabel) Franco of Hobbs, N.M. and Jessie (Ida) Franco of Levelland
Sisters: Maria (Saul) Alvarado, Rosemary (Edward) Amalla, Erica Franco (Rey Reza) and Michelle (Mark) Herrera all four of Morton.
Grandson: (1) Jose Andres Onofre Jr.
Donald Gene Howard
May 6, 1940 — May 1, 2023
Donald Gene Howard, 82, passed away peacefully on May 01, 2023. He was born May 06, 1940, to Emmitt and Pauline Howard. He married Carolyn Lee Roberts on June 01, 1959. They had two sons, Lyndon Scott and Garren Gene.
Donald Gene started his oil field career in the mid-1960’s in West Texas where he worked until retiring in 2008. He was active in the church and faithful to mission work. He loved gospel music and hymns and singing in the choir.
Donald Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn and his oldest son, Lyndon.
Donald Gene’s survivors include his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Keith and Darlene Hendricks of Lubbock; youngest son and daughter-in-law, Garren and Teresa of Fulshear; grandson, Tyler and wife Tiffany Howard of Brenham, with their boys, the two great grandsons, Graham and Parker; grandson, U.S. Air Force Staff Sargent Scott and wife Gina Howard of Misawa, Japan; grandson, Aaron and wife Jasmine Howard of Katy; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will celebrate Donald Gene’s life at 1:00 PM, Saturday, May 6th, 2023, at Park Drive Baptist Church, Levelland, Texas with Gill Ramirez officiating. Graveside burial will follow at Levelland Municipal Cemetery.
Viewing will be held at Krestridge Funeral Home in Levelland, Texas on Friday, May 5th from 5:00-7:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for contributions to be made to Operation Christmas Child through Park Drive Baptist Church in Don and Carolyn Howard’s name.
Donald Gene will greatly be missed.
Guadalupe “Lupita” Guajardo
October 7, 1958 ~ May 1, 2023 (age 64)
Guadalupe “ Lupita” Guajardo, was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She attended School in Morton in her younger years. She married Roger Guajardo in 2010 in Las Vegas , Nevada. She worked at the Senior Citizens Center in Morton for several years. Her hobbies were dancing, traveling, going to the casinos gambling in Ruidoso, & Hobbs, N.M, Shopping, playing Bingo, hanging out with all her girl friends from Morton, visiting and spending time spoiling her grandchildren, cooking, and loved to go to Savannah’s Restaurant, gardening. She was a life time member of St. Ann’s Catholic church in Morton. Lupita, shall be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Proceeded in Death by:
Parents: Jesus and Ofilia Casarez Sepulveda
Sisters: Rosalinda Escobar and Toni Gonzalez
Survivors:
Spouse of 13 years: Roger Guajardo of Morton
Sons: Randy (Vanessa) Vasquez of San Angelo, TX and Ricky (Delilah) Valenzuela in Odessa, TX
Grandchildren: (4) Chris Vasquez, Anthony Valenzuela, Anivai Valenzuela, Karissa Valenzuela, Makayla Valenzuela
Great Grandchildren: C. J. Vasquez, Olivia Vasquez, Alianna Valenzuela
Sister: Jessica (Randy ) West of Levelland
Brothers: Joe Selpulveda of Oklahoma and Gilbert (Delma) Selpulveda of Morton
Extended Family: Irene (Jesse) Davila of Levelland, Maggie Ramon and Syndia Guajardo both of Morton, Roger Guajardo Jr. and Monica (Johnny) Garza both of Lubbock and Grandchildren
Rebecca Ann “Becky” Sanchez
August 4, 1961 ~ April 28, 2023 (age 61)
Becky, was a wonderful sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. .She attended Levelland High School during her younger years. Becky, was blessed with four children.She was a homemaker and her hobbies was working on crafts, going to garage sales with her sisters, playing bingo and lotteries ,listening to Christian music, reading her bible, watching her favorite movie Grease with John Travolta, and Walker Texas Rangers, going to Flea Market and Thrift Store, eating out at Burger King (Texas Double Whopper), go riding on her bike and taking her two dogs Pedro and Chuchila. She was a life time member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church of Levelland.
Proceeded in Death by:
Parents: Guadalupe T. and Juanita Pesqueda Sanchez
Sister: Delia Sanchez
Survivors:
Daughters: Samantha Ledesma (John Mireles) and Denise Ledesma (Martin Gaona) both of Levelland
Sons: Eric Lee Ledesma and Christopher John Ledesma both of Lubbock
Sisters: Lita Contreras, Gracie (Arthur) Rico, and Kathy Sanchez all three of Levelland
Brothers: Roger (Becky) Sanchez, Guadalupe Sanchez Jr. , and David (Ana) Sanchez all three of Levelland
Grandchildren: 12 Great Grandchildren: 1
Lupe Cruz Orosco
August 30, 1960 ~ April 24, 2023 (age 62)
Lupe, was a wonderful son, brother, father, grandfather ,great grandfather and uncle. He attended Levelland High School during his younger years. He married Olivia Gonzales, in 1978 in Levelland and they had four children from this union. Lupe, worked for Patterson Oil Co. and Norton Energy and Drilling and various other oil companies as a driller, pulling unit operator and tool pusher for several years. His hobbies was working on rebuilding and refurbishing older model vehicles and body work, mechanic, handy-man, enjoyed gardening, building and remodeling homes, barbequing for his family outdoors, and spending time with all of his grandchildren. A life time member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church of Levelland. He shall be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Proceeded in Death by:
Parents: Felix Sr. and Consuelo Cruz Orosco
Son: Lupe Orosco Jr.
Brothers: Felix Orosco Jr. and Bobby Orosco
Survivors:
Former Spouse: Olivia Gonzales Orosco of Levelland
Daughters: Viola Orosco and Crystal Orosco both of Levelland
Son: Rocky (Pati) Orosco of Big Springs, Tx
Sisters: Conchita (Bart) Gaona , and Rosalinda Orosco both of Levelland and Lori (Max) Honesto of Amarillo.
Brothers: Rudy (Candy) Orosco and Raul Orosco both of Levelland
Grandchildren: 13 Great Grandchildren: 3
William Riley Cogdill
April 19, 1948 ~ April 20, 2023 (age 75)
William “Rilely”, was a wonderful son, husband, father, cousin and friend. He graduated from High School in 1966 while serving in the United States Navy in Lemoore, California. He served 8 years in the United States Navy during the Vietnam war era. He married Donna Kaye Mitchell, on October 30th, 1966 in Meadow, Tx. His hobbies was spoiling his wife Donna, and riding around with his wife and cousin Karla. He enjoyed talking about his service time in the Navy. He shall be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Preceded in Death by:
Parents: William Jurdis Cogdill and Vada Lurlene Dobbins
Spouse of 55 years: Donna Kaye Mitchell Cogdill
Son: Casey Dee Cogdill
Sister: Leslie Rene Roberts
Survivors:
Cousins: Johnny Johnson and Karla Jo Hamilton of Wolfforth
Several nephews and nieces and friends
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