OBITUARIES

Donald Lee Bloom

Published

8 years ago

07/28/2017

Donald Lee Bloom
April 1932 – July 18, 2017
GRAPEVINE – Donald Lee Bloom, 84, passed away in on July 18, 2017 in Grapevine, TX.
Services for Don will be at 12:30 p.m. July 31 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Please arrive at 12:15 p.m. (15 minutes prior).
Don was born in Tulsa, OK in April 1932 and was fascinated with flying from a very young age. His dream of becoming a pilot was put on the back burner when football became his passion during high school and college.
It was during his senior year in college at the University of Houston with a football scholarship, he graduated in 1955, that becoming a pilot became crystal clear.
Following graduation he joined the U.S. Navy flight-training program. After his preflight training, Don became a navy cadet and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. His first flight as a pilot was in Pensacola, FL in October 1955. After spending four years flying for the U.S. Marine Corps he became an experimental Test Pilot for Kaman Aircraft 1960-1961.
Don joined Bell Helicopter as an experimental test pilot and development pilot in 1961. Don retired from Bell Helicopter as a senior experimental test pilot 1990, and continued his love of flying as an expert witness in aviation accident trials. His credentials during his career at Bell include first flights and structural demonstrations in the model 577 (super UH-1D), OH-58A, AH-1J, 206L series, 222 and UH-1C. As a Bell Helicopter Engineering Development test pilot, he flew structural demonstrations that were required for military approval.
He was the project development pilot on the first prototype fighter helicopter, the Bell AH-1G Cobra. Don was project pilot on 187 projects between 1961 and 1990, logged 150 flight test projects in chronological sequence, log books reflecting the flying of 102 different helicopters and 15 fixed-wing aircraft. Total flight hours logged are 14,000 plus, of which 6,540 are experimental and development time.
He developed high velocity curves for the OH-58A, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206B, 206B-1, 206B-3, 204B-4 and the UH-1C. In 1984 the Society of Experimental Test Pilots presented the coveted Iven C. Kinchloe Award to Don for his successful investigation into the spin phenomena of the OH-58A (later identified as loss of tail rotor effectiveness-LTE).
He was the first helicopter pilot to receive this award since its inception in 1958. Recipients of this award are displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum including John H. Glenn Jr., Neil Armstrong and Charles E. Yeager.
Don and Tom Wood, Bell Senior Technical Fellow, were also recognized in 1984 for developing a new understanding of LTE based on flight investigation for which they received the Howard Hughes Award.
This award is given in recognition of an outstanding improvement in the fundamental helicopter technology brought to fruition during the preceding calendar year. The results of this flight data and interpretation of this data is still taught at Bell’s Flight Training Academy today.
The FAA recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years by awarding the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award. Don received this award in 2011.
For 21 years at Bell and 15 additional years since retirement, Don had served as SW Region /FAA Designated Engineering Representative Flight Test Pilot. From his first flight in 1955 through his retirement from Bell in 1990 and after his retirement, self employed, DB Aero, DER and DER consultant activities, expert witness trial and depositions, accident investigations and analysis, and helicopter operations advisor, Don continued to set an example for what the meaning “Master Pilot” is. According to his fellow pilots, “Don does not fly helicopters, he wears them.”
He was a loving son, husband and father.
Don is predeceased by his mother, Georgia Randolph Bloom (1984); father, Fred Miles Bloom (1988); and by his loving wife, Anne Marie Bloom of 52 years.
Don is survived by his children, Susan Bloom and partner, Tammy Upson, Stacy Bloom, Robert Bloom and Todd Bloom; Herb Waldrop (Don’s best friend, long time golf partner, coworker and expert engineer in flying), Cookie Kirschner (Don’s best friend and sister since the age of 12 that shared his love of playing the piano, writing music, singing and flying), and Bubba Applewhite (friend and golf partner).
Offer condolences for the family of Donald Lee Bloom at www.lonestarcremation.com/donald-lee-bloom.
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OBITUARIES

Clifton Carl Robbins

Published

3 days ago

03/12/2025

bowienews

September 16, 1938 – March 5, 2025
BOWIE- Clifton Carl Robbins, 86, passed away on March 5, 2025 in Crowley.
A graveside service was at 2 p.m. on March 8, at Eastside Cemetery in Bridgeport with Pastor Ronnie Lawson officiating.
Clifton Robbins was born on Sept. 16, 1938 to Elvin and Loise (Pipkin) Robbins, at home in the southern part of Montague County. He grew up and graduated from Bowie High School and worked as a flagman before marrying his sweetheart of 40 years, Lois Jeannine Byrd. They moved to Wichita Falls where he worked for Parker Food Stores and Piggly Wiggly’s ShopRite foods as a produce manager and later produce supervisor. An opportunity arose and he changed employers to Bolner’s Fiesta Products of San Antonio. The family moved to Dallas and then Grapevine, before retiring after 25 years with Bolner. He graciously took care of his wife, Jeannine, until her death in 1997.
Clifton was fortunate to reunite with his childhood friend, Carla Johnson, after returning to Bowie, and they were married in 2008. He stood by her side until her death in 2024.
Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Loise Robbins; first wife, Jeannine Robbins; second wife, Carla Robbins; grandparents, Lee and Dora Ada Pipkin; son-in-law, Rick Mewbourn; brother, Windol Robbins and sister-in-law, Lupe Robbins.
Clifton is survived by his children, Kent Robbins and wife Susan, Crowley, Lisa Mewbourn, Grapevine and Mark Robbins and wife Karen, Waco; grandchildren, Chrystine Wilder (Brett), Sarah Henderson (Kirk), Stephanie Renfro (Eric), Risa Oberbeck (DJ) and Emilye Robbins; great-grandchildren, Elise and William Henderson, Julia and Meredith Wilder, Ethan, Owen, Abigail, Benjamin and Charlotte Renfro and Easton and Rylan Oberbeck; sister, Phyllis Hudson and husband Elton; along with many nieces and nephews.
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OBITUARIES

Joseph “Joe” Burt Dial

Published

3 days ago

03/12/2025

bowienews

April 27, 1936 – December 18, 2024
SAINT JO – Joseph “Joe” Burt Dial, 88, passed away on Dec. 18, 2024.
Joe was born in Kilgore on April 27, 1936 to parents, William Andrew Dial and Grace (Spaudling) Dial. Joe graduated high school from Texas Military Institute in San Antonio. He went on to the University of Texas in Austin, later getting his degree from the University of Maryland.
In his younger years he was a rancher in South Texas and was involoved in raising and promoting the Brahman breed in the United States and in other countries. Agriculture was a way of life for him in many ways.
In 1991 George H.W. Bush appointed Joe a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was confirmed by the Senate. Joe chose a cornfield in South Texas to be the place where he was officially sworn into office. On April 17, 1993 Joe married Marilyn Scoptt Smith in Alexandria, VA.
When Joe’s term at C.F.T.C. ended, he accepted a fellowship at Harvard University at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government. Joe and Marilyn moved to Cambridge, MA for the spring semester.
In 2000, after completing his fellowship, Joe and Marilyn moved to Dallas. Joe became active in the former Texas ranger Association in honor of his father who was a Texas Ranger. In 2004, Joe and Marilyn moved to Saint Jo. Joe served well as around the county. He was a founding member of Leadership Montague County. After returning to Texas, Joe also began consulting work with other countries, assisting them in creating or upgrading regulatory agencies for commodity markets. Joe was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. Heas the epitome of a “good and faithful servant.”
Joe is survived by his wife, Marilyn Dial and Walter Smith, Saint Jo; four children from a previous marriage, Joseph A. Dial, Catherine Dial Easly, Emily Dial Heard and Peggy Dial; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Easy Street Animal Shelter in Saint Jo or Cal Farley’s Boy’s Ranch in Amarillo.
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OBITUARIES

Edward Arnold Fenoglio Jr.

Published

3 days ago

03/12/2025

bowienews

April 5, 1970 – March 4, 2025
NOCONA – Edward Arnold Fenoglio Jr.,54, died on March 4 in Montague County Texas.
There was a visitation from 4-5 p.m. March 8 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. March 9 at Montague County Cowboy Church, Montague with Pastors Joe Caballero, Paul Coronado and Father Albert Francis officiating. Interment followed in Montague Catholic Cemetery.
He was born April 5, 1970, in Graham to Kathy Maisen Fenoglio and Edward Arnold Fenoglio Sr. He was raised in Montague County farming, ranching, and attending school in Montague and Nocona.
Throughout his early years, he earned many accolades, from All-State spitting champion at age 13 to Mr. NHS, Best Looking and Most Athletic at Nocona High School. He participated in FFA, football, track, basketball and baseball. Fenoglio was a state qualifier in debate and livestock judging, regional record holder in pole vault, and a state qualifier in 440/mile relay. Fenoglio was a member of the Nocona Masonic Lodge#753, Bowie Masonic Lodge#578, Royal Order of Jesters Ct. 85, Maskat Shrine, Scottish Rite and Knights of Columbus.
After high school, he attended Cooke County College, Midwestern State University and Southwestern Texas State University where he earned a bachelor of science in business administration in management and finance along with his long-term care administration degree. During the past 30 years, Fenoglio worked in long-term care, 20 years with Brookdale Living.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
He is survived by his wife, Chris; sons, Benjamin Baker, Hunter and Chandler; two grandsons; sisters, Becky Fenoglio Hankamer and Jennifer Fenoglio Langer; two nephews and two nieces.
Memorials may be made to Wichita Maskat Shrined, Montague Independent School District or Nocona Independent School District.