OBITUARIES
Kenneth Ray Jenkins
Kenneth Ray Jenkins
October 6, 1920 – January 17, 2015
BOWIE – Kenneth Ray Jenkins, 94, died Jan. 17, 2015 in Wichita Falls, TX.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 with visitation one hour prior to the service in the drawing room of The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery.
Jenkins was born Oct. 6, 1920 in Quanah to the late I.B. and Onie E. Jenkins.
He began his meteorological career when he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, receiving his weather training at Chanute Field in Champaign County, IL before being stationed in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.
Following his honorable discharge from the service in 1946, he was employed by the U.S. Weather Bureau at stations in Clovis, NM, Laredo and Amarillo.
On Aug. 13, 1946, he married Marion Evelyn Phillips in Quanah.
In 1956 the couple moved to El Paso where he went to work as a meteorological rocket scientist at White Sands Missile Range. By the time of his retirement in 1975, he had achieved the position of upper atmospheric research chief for WSMR’s Atmospherics Sciences Laboratory.
He was an associate fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of both the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union.
He and his wife moved to Bowie in 1982. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Bowie.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Jenkins; son Kevin Jenkins, Fredericktown, MO; six grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, TX 76310, online at: http://www.hospiceofwf.org/donate/; or at First Baptist Church, 307 Lindsey St., Bowie, TX, 76230.
December 26, 1942 – August 28, 2026
BELLEVUE – Jimmie Dale Johnson, 83, died on Aug. 28, 2026 in Wichita Falls.
A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the First Baptist Church of Bellevue Life Center.
He was born Dec. 26, 1942 in Fort Worth to James Jeffrey and Nellie Mae (Frazier) Johnson. He worked in the oilfield and for Robert’s Radiator Shop in Bowie for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; partner, Arlene Denton; brothers, Bill Lewis and Bob Lewis; sisters, Betty Huber, Mary Goodner, and twin sisters, Jessie Mayo and Peggy Ferrin.
He is survived by his stepson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
August 8, 1972 – September 5, 2026
BOWIE – LaDonna Mae Howell, 54, died on Sept. 5, 2026.
A funeral service took place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 10 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1972. She was a graduate of Kinta High School in Kinta, OK where she graduated in 1990 as the valedictorian.
She continued her education at East Central University in Ada, OK earning her bachelor degree in accounting with honors in 1994. That same year, she became a certified public accountant.
She worked for Beverly Industries and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma before serving as vice president of business affairs at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. Later, she became the comptroller at North Central Texas College in Gainesville. She also served as the treasurer of the Bowie High School Mighty Marching
Maroon Band Boosters for many years.
She is survived by her son, Andrew Charles Howell, Longtown, OK; daughter, Amanda Rae Howell, Bowie; her children’s father, Michael Ray Howell, Saginaw and three grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
January 26, 2026 – September 4, 2026
NOCONA – Bobby (Jerry) Orrell, 87, died on Sept. 4, 2026.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
He born in Decatur on Jan. 26, 1939 to Elizabeth and Willie.
He was a United States Army veteran who served his country in Germany. He worked for ARCO National Supply in Gainesville as a supervisor. He worked for Bell Helicopter, Otis Elevator and General Dynamics. He also worked for Boeing as an engineer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Willie; sister, Norma Morby and brother, Bill (Buster) Orrell.
He is survived by his sons, Hannan and Caton; three grandchildren and brother, Leo Orrell.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
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