COUNTY LIFE
Pearl Harbor sailor coming home; Walters identified after 78 years
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
A Navy seaman killed in the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941 will be returned to his hometown of Bowie and laid to rest for the final time after he was officially identified as Fireman 1st Class Bethel Elbert Walters.
The lengthy and painstaking process of identifying remains interred as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii continues 71 years after they were declared unidentifiable. Recent years have seen more and more of these heroes coming home.
This is the second Montague County serviceman killed at Pearl Harbor to be identified and returned home. In 2018, Seaman 1st Class James C. Solomon was buried at Forestburg after he was killed on the USS Oklahoma.
Walters will be interred during graveside services at 10 a.m. on March 14 at Elmwood Cemetery with Patrick Walters, the sailor’s nephew, officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on March 13 at the White Family Funeral Home.
Read the full story in your mid-week Bowie News.
The members of the Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 27 in the courthouse annex.
Items on the agenda are as follows: Consent agenda, fueling energy and operations update from Pam Hughes Pak with Atmos Energy Corporation, proclamation naming June was Elder Abuse Awareness Month in the county, consider WiFi at new county animal shelter, consider Nortex Housing Finance Corporation tax-exempt obligations (Sun Valley apartments), precinct one request to transfer $200,000 from reserves to gravel, precinct request to store fill dirt on Chance Simpson’s property in Ringgold and budget workshop.
The City of Bowie swimming pool begins the new season on May 27 with a splash day of free swimming from 1 to 6 p.m.
Pool hours will be 1-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 1-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Water aerobics begins June 2 running Monday-Thursday 6-7 p.m. for $2. Summer recreation has new hours this year 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday-Friday. This free program offers games and swimming for children.
The Ray Walker Memorial VFW Post #8558 will host a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. on May 26, 100 Baylor Street in Nocona.
The public is invited to attend to celebrate this special holiday to remember those who were killed in service.
Later in the day attend the fundraiser barbecue rib dinner at the Nocona Senior Citizen’s Center. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Enjoy ribs, french fries, beans, cole slaw, dessert and iced tea. Proceeds benefit the center and the Meals on Wheels program of Nocona.
Veterans eat free. Meal prepared by the award winning Nocona High School barbecue team.
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