OBITUARIES

Bob Fitzner

Published

3 months ago

03/25/2026

December 16, 1946 – March 18, 2026
BOWIE – Bob Fitzner, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 18, 2026 in Bowie, TX.
The funeral services were at 11 a.m. on March 23 at First Baptist Church, Bowie with Minister Jack Pritchard officiating. The family received friends from 2 – 4 p.m. on March 22 at White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
The burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Bob Fitzner was born Dec. 16, 1946 to James and Annabelle Fitzner in Tucumcari, NM. After graduating Tascosa High School in Amarillo, class of 1965, he immediately enlisted in the United States Army wanting to serve his country. While in the Army, he excelled as a soldier and rose to the Special Forces Team of a Green Beret. As an Airborne Green Beret trained at Fort Bragg, NC, Sergeant Bob Fitzner earned his wings and then became a Jumpmaster.
His additional training included certification in glacier climbing and repelling, river navigation, firearms expert and field medic. After his service to his country, Bob chose to pursue his education at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. While in Wichita Falls, he met his beautiful bride, Linda Diane White. They married Dec. 4, 1971 at First Baptist Church in Bowie. They started their life together while attending college in Wichita Falls where they began their family.
While raising their children, Bob created and established Homestead Mobile Homes in Burkburnett and eventually expanded to seven additional mobile home lots throughout Texas. While raising their four children, Bob was heavily involved in the community in the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president and officer for the board of commerce and industry. He coached many of his children’s youth sport teams. In 1989, the family moved to Bowie where he eventually started Homestead Mortgage.
Throughout his time in Bowie, he served as Bowie High School Booster Club President for two years while continuing to support every child in all activities from basketball, cheerleading, football, baseball and golf, and especially supporting his wife creating community musicals and being a local high school theater teacher.
Traveling was a favorite past time of Bob and Linda, as they were fortunate enough to travel the world while their children were young. He pursued his passion for flying and aircrafts in 1982 and earned his personal pilots license then bought his first plane, which was Cessna 172. He also loved being recognized as a radio star starting in Seattle where he was the voice of the daily “Troop Salute” and for the past five years has been the voice of the “Troop Salute” on the Country Top 40 Countdown with Fitz. Known as “Green Beret Bob’ he is adored by listeners throughout the world.
Bob is survived by his wife, Linda Fitzner; son, Brady Fitzner, Bowie; daughter, Misti Fitzner Reed and husband Thomas, Colleyville; son, Cory Fitzner and wife, Bethany, Weatherford; son, Dustin Fitzner of Dallas Fort Worth; sisters, Jimmie Ann Vaughn, Bastrop and twin sister, Bonnie Dennis, Georgetown; 13 grandchildren, Austin, Allie and Andy Fitzner; Everleigh, Tanner and Breeland Reed, and Corbin, Chloe, Cooper, Drew, Cash, Bowie and Bodie Fitzner; four great-grandchildren, Hank, Jesco, Duke and Janeas; and many nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made in honor of Bob to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the Bowie Jackrabbit Booster Club, P.O. Box 285 Bowie, TX 76230.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Imogene Dalton Evans

Published

5 days ago

06/19/2026

bowienews

November 28,1928 – June 9, 2026
DENTON – Imogene Dalton Evans, 97, passed away on June 9, 2026.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on June 20 at DeBerry Funeral Home and at 2 p.m. the funeral service will follow. A grave side service will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park 3801 Roselawn Dr., Denton.
Imogene Dalton Evans was born on Nov. 28, 1928 in Coleman County Texas to Samuel and Effie Clara Dalton. She was raised on the family farm and ranch near Gouldbusk attending local schools and graduating high school from Mozelle High School.
Growing up she worked in the fields and with the cattle and sheep alongside her brothers. She gained a great work ethic that stayed with her throughout her life. She felt blessed to have three careers. She worked with her husband Joe Evans in their plumbing, heating and air conditioning business. After it was sold because of Joe’s health, she returned to college to finish her education, receiving a BS degree from North Texas State University (now UNT) and a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. She began work as a county extension agent in Montague County, retiring in 1991. She moved back to Denton and began a career in real estate in 1993.
Family was extremely important to her. After working all day she would work at night canning and freezing food from the family’s garden. One of her sayings she will be remembered for is a quote “waste not, want not.”
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Joe B. Evans in 1991; daughter, Regina Pitt in 2011; son, Joe B. Evans Jr. in 2015; daughter, Sharon Griffith in 2023; parents and three brothers.
She is survived by her grandsons, Scott Griffith, Fort Worth, Chad (Milly) Griffith, Dallas and “Trey” (Julie) Joe B. Evans III, Bowie; granddaughters, Lindsay (Kyle) Coker, Dallas, Shannon (James) Mares, Krum, and Lydia Evans, Bowie; great-grandchildren, Case Janopoulos, Krum, Emarie Evans, Bowie, Harper and Ellis Griffith, Dallas, Jack Griffith, Fort Worth, Berkleigh and Reagan Mares, Krum, and Collins and Myer Coker, Dallas; sister, Anna Walker, Saginaw; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrust to DeBerry Funeral Home, Denton.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Mark Dean Hancock

Published

6 days ago

06/18/2026

bowienews

June 21, 1958 – June 10, 2026
NOCONA – Mark Dean Hancock, 67, died on June 10, 2026.
A memorial service will be from 2-4 p.m. on June 28 at the Turquoise Owl in Nocona.
He and his twin, Mike, were born on June 21, 1958, in Gainesville to Harvey F. Hancock and Jean (Hancock) Shears. He graduated from Nocona High School in 1976. He also attended North Texas University. He had several careers in his lifetime—the Boys’ State School in Gainesville, Tucker Rocky Distributing and numerous oilfield companies.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a half-sister and grandparents.
He is survived by two sons, Ben Hancock and Sam Hancock; brothers, Harvey Hancock and Mike Hancock; sisters, Kathy Tomlinson and Patty Crabtree; two grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.

OBITUARIES

Minnie Allen Walker

Published

6 days ago

06/18/2026

bowienews

January 20, 1938 – June 12, 2026
BOWIE – Minnie Allen Walker, 88 years, 4 months, and 23 days old died June 12, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on June 14 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel.
A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church on June 15. Interment followed in Ringgold Cemetery.
She was born Jan. 20, 1938, to Clarence and Eunice Allen in Ardmore, OK on what had once been reservation land. She was the only one of nine children to be born in a hospital. She graduated from Prairie Valley High School, where she played basketball and volleyball.
In 1959, she married her soulmate, Jerry Walker, and they built their extended family over the next 56 years. She worked for Dude’s Duds briefly, and at the Ford dealership in Nocona for many years. She served as Nocona City secretary and then as Nocona City manager, retiring in 2005 after a total of 23 years. The Walkers lost Jerry in 2018, and she moved to Independence Hall in Bowie a few years ago.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Walker; parents; and siblings, Alice Harper, Sam, Doie and David Allen.
She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Walker, Linda Wickersham and Kathy Sayers; three step-daughters; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan Tettleton and Barbara Ice; and many nieces and nephews.
She had a lifelong love of flowers, so flowers to remember her are welcome or donate to the Carpenter Shop, 400 Boston St., Nocona, TX 76255.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.