OBITUARIES
Robert Calvin Donald Jr.
Robert Calvin Donald Jr.
January 13, 1940 – June 11, 2019
SUNSET – Robert Calvin Donald Jr., 79, passed away on June 11, 2019.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 16 at The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on June 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bowie with Pastor Joe Gambill officiating.
Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Robert was born on Jan. 13, 1940 in Sunset. He was the only child of his parents Robert Calvin Donald Sr. and Estelle Catlin Donald. He attended the Sunset school until the eighth grade at which point all students moved to Bowie High School, where he graduated in 1958.
He grew up taking care of cows and horses on the Donald ranch. He met his wife of 56 years at Bowie School, Mary Nell Kirby Donald, they were married on January 28th, 1961 in Bowie. He attended Texas A&M University from 1958 until 1962, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. They had their first child, James Larry Donald on Oct. 11, 1962 in Houston.
His first job in Houston was working for Haliburton. That company was purchased by Texas Instruments a couple of years later and in 1967 he was transferred to TI in Dallas. His second son was born on April 21, 1968, Robert William Donald. He worked on equipment that would detect oil at the bottom of the ocean and traveled to several countries to test out the equipment, including Honduras, Singapore and Africa where he would be on large freighters for weeks at a time testing the equipment. His hobbies consisted of sailing and ham radios.
The family lived in Richardson until 1978, upon his father’s passing, he decided to manage the Donald Ranch and moved back to Sunset. During that time, he held jobs at Poco Graphite in Decatur as well as Moore Supply Co. in Denton, but his next big career change was getting his teaching certificate and teaching at the school in Forestburg, specializing in math and computer science for grades six through 12. He retired from teaching in the early 2000s and focused on his cattle raising activities until his passing.
He and his wife attended the First Presbyterian Church of Bowie since 1978 and his wife passed in February of 2017.
He is survived by his eldest son, Larry and wife Lori, in Decatur, son, Bill in Bangkok, Thailand; grandchildren, Karl and wife Sarah, Decatur, and Cassie and husband Shaun; and great grandchild, Evan, Sasche, Kelsea and husband Lance, Ashlyn and Autumn, Decatur and James, Decatur; and cousins James, Laura, Karen and William Catlin.
Paid publication
December 27, 1965 – August 12, 2026
NOCONA – Daniel Forrest Barrett, 60, died on Aug. 12, 2026.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
He was born Dec. 27, 1965, in Spring Branch to James Harry Barrett and Opal Laverne Henderson. He played football at Northwestern and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He worked mostly as a stock broker.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Chuck Barrett.
He is survived by his three children, Reagan, Dylan and Connor; two grandchildren; sister, Sherri Lynn Watson; two nieces; one nephew and siblings, Jesse, Rich and Cheryl.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
July 24, 1960 – August 12, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – David Duke, 66, died on Aug. 12, 2026 in Wichita Falls, TX.
There was a visitation from 6 – 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the Abundant Life Church officiated by Pastor James Messer.
Interment followed in Terral Cemetery. Pallbearers were Randy Harris, Randy Croxton, Wiley Vanover, Zak Weaver, Bradley Lawrence and Ross Atteberry. Honorary pallbearers were David Morrison and the Red River Dozer Crew.
He was born on July 24, 1960 in Bowie to Harvey and Marjorie Romine Duke. He was a dozer operator mainly for Red River Dozer. He grew up in Terral, OK where he graduated high school. He married Micheal Heathington on Nov. 26, 1994 in Spanish Fort.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Micheal Duke; children, Leslie Halt, Kendra Grottie and Kyle Duke; sisters, Delores Weatherly and Sharon Westbrook; brothers, Ricky Duke and Ronnie Duke, and nine grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Eagle Point Cemetery Association.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
June 12, 1981 – August 2, 2026
DALLAS – Timothy Tompkins, 45, died on Aug. 2, 2026 in Dallas, TX.
There was a memorial service on at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Sparkman officiating. A private family interment will follow at a later date.
He was born on June 12, 1981 to Sam and Paula Tompkins in Wichita Falls. He was a driver, worked the oil industry for several years, wroked as a ranch manager and carpenter. He was a member of Valley View Baptist Church. He married Christy Marie Harris on Sept. 24, 2005 in Nocona.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Tompkins, Nocona; parents, Sam and Paula Tompkins, Spanish Fort; sister, Amanda York, Wichita Falls; children, Samantha Dawn Tompkins, Stephenville, Brock Wilson Tompkins, Frisco, Deagan Brodie Tompkins, Spanish Fort, Lillian Marie “Lili” Tompkins, Spanish Fort and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 330, Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death