OBITUARIES
Melva “Jean” Bridgwater
February 11, 1936 – October 23, 2022
BOWIE – Melva “Jean” Bridgwater, 86, went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 23, 2022 in Wichita Falls.
The family will receive friends from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 29, at the First Baptist Church in Bowie with Mike Henson and Darrell Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Salona Cemetery.
Jean was born in Terral, OK on Feb. 11, 1936. She was the daughter of Harvey and Auda Richardson, who moved to Bowie shortly after her birth. With two brothers and three sisters, the Richardson household was a busy place. Jean always loved the outdoors; she preferred milking cows to housework. As Jean entered high school, it was apparent that she had an aptitude for sports. She loved playing basketball at Bowie High School.
During high school, she met a boy that she would later describe as the “number one” love of her life. That boy, Jake Bridgwater, would ask her to marry him in December 1954. They both believed that God had brought them together. Jake and Jean married on Sept. 21, 1956. Everyone who knew them understood that there was a special connection between them. Jean accelerated her college at North Texas so that they could graduate at the same time. They then moved back to Bowie where they would make their home for the next 55 years.
Jean joined Jake in teaching and coaching at Bowie High School. She taught physical education and health while coaching girls basketball and sponsoring the pep squad and cheerleaders. Jean was one of those special teachers and coaches that supported, loved and counseled students throughout all her 33 years in education. In 1962, she coached the Bowie girls until she had to stop teaching because she was pregnant with her first child, Tammy. That team went on to play in the state finals. Just two years later, Julie, their second daughter, was born. Jean loved to spend the summers with her husband and daughters and take trips to the mountains and camp. Jean continued to coach and work with the basketball team through all the Title IX changes. She was affectionately called “Coach B” until her retirement from coaching in 1983. She spent 11 more years teaching.
Jean was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Bowie. She served on numerous committees, going on mission trips and teaching her beloved Hope Sunday School Class. She and her family had countless years of perfect attendance. When her daughters had chicken pox, she even hosted a Sunday school for chicken pox kids so no one had to miss Sunday school. The family was at the church every time the doors were open. Her dedication was first and foremost to the Lord.
Her grandchildren called her “Nana.” She adored each one of her five grandchildren. She loved keeping them, nursing them when they were sick and playing anything they wanted to play. She sometimes let them win, but mostly she pushed them to be better and taught them invaluable life lessons. She loved to fix breakfast for her grandkids even if they all wanted something different. Her grandsons preferred their bacon by the pound. They truly were the light and twinkle in her eye. She also loved and treasured each one of her great-grandkids.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jake Bridgwater; parents, Harvey and Auda Richardson; brothers, H.A. and Doyle Richardson and sister, JoAnn Stone.
Jean is survived by her daughter, Tammy Brown and husband Darrell, Colleyville; daughter, Julie Henderson and husband Steve, Wichita Falls; five grandchildren, Bethany Smith and husband Paul, Jace Brown and wife Kendall, Bryce Henderson and wife Whitney, Chase Henderson and wife McKenzie and Maddie Hendricks and husband Adam; great-grandchildren, Parker, Blakely, Jake, Mason and Andrew; sisters, Joyce May and Patsy Plaxco and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family requests memorial donations be made in Jean Bridgwater’s name to the First Baptist Church of Bowie or Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
October 4, 1948 – November 20, 2024
BOWIE – William Donald Cleveland was born Oct. 4, 1948 in Bowie to Donald Dean and Betty Isabella Cleveland. He died Nov. 20, 2024 at age 76 at his home in Bowie.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Nov. 23 at First Baptist Church of Alvord with visitation at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Alvord Cemetery.
One of his treasures in life was growing up in Post Oak with his sister, Marsha, having the advantage of their Papaw Cleveland living with them and sharing his love, wisdom and love for the Lord. His mentor and pastor Tom Urrey, “Tinker” held a special place in his heart and life as well.
He graduated from Jacksboro High School in 1967. He then went to Howard Payne on a track scholarship, graduated from Midwestern University with a bachelor of arts in English, attended Southwestern Theological Seminary and later worked toward a masters degree in psychology at Midwestern University.
He began his career while attending Howard Payne as youth minister at First Baptist Llano, TX. He then became youth minister at Southwest Baptist Church in Jacksboro,while attending Seminary. Next, he was youth minister at Sunnyside Baptist in Wichita Falls, then on to First Baptist Childress as music and youth minister. He then established Cleveland Electric in Bowie while serving several churches part time.
In 1994, he began his ministry at First Baptist Alvord and served as pastor for 28 years. He was instrumental in overseeing the building of a new sanctuary in 2009 along with many members who did most of the work themselves. His one request was that the building have a cornerstone that had the name “Jesus” inscribed and built into the building. His wish was that no man take the glory except God. God used Bill to lead many people to Christ through his preaching, counseling, hospital visits, vacation bible schools, bible studies, youth mission trips and ski trips.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Betty Cleveland, Sara Bayard and Andrea Wood.
Bill is survived by his wife of 46 years, Paula; his “little” sister and “big” brother Marsha and Mike Robinson, Jacksboro; children, Shawn Cleveland and wife Stephanie, Plano; Shanna Cleveland, Boston, MA; grandchildren, Claire, Christopher and Cole Cleveland. Also, Barry and Rhonda Clark, Kent and Pam Wood; grandchildren, Melissa and Zeke Dorr, Macie and Cody Rollins, Kregg and Jordan Wood, Kyle and Lorraine Wood and great-grandchildren, Clark and Nicholas Dorr, Callie and Sadie Rollins, Hallie and Cooper Wood and Grayson Wood.
Memorial contributions should be made to the First Baptist Church Alvord building fund.
His request was to have the word Tetelestai on his headstone, meaning, “It is finished.”
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
October 23, 1946 – November 15, 2024
Little River-Academy, TX – Gloria Kay Bell, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 15, 2024.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Saint Peter Lutheran Church in Bowie with the Rev. Lavern Janssen and the Rev. Mark DeYoung officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Stoneburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Gloria was born on Oct. 23, 1946 in Bowie to Russell and Linda (Roth) Johnson. She married the love of her life, Ronnie Bell on July 5, 1969 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, where she also was baptized and confirmed. Ronnie and Gloria shared 55 happy years together.
Gloria loved little children and her family. She loved to sing, participating in school choirs and also church choirs where she attended worship. She also loved to paint, selling several paintings and having her artwork displayed in galleries. People from all over are still enjoying her talent.
She retired from First Financial Bank of Abilene where she worked in several different departments which kept her on her toes, but she loved her job and working with the public.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Gloria is survived by her husband, Ronnie Bell, Little River-Academy, TX; son, Brian Bell and wife Shanna, Wagoner, OK; daughter, Lori Johnson and husband Brandon, Winchester, KY; brother, Steven Johnson and wife Joslon, Nocona; sister, Doria Counts and husband James, Graham; grandchildren, Hailey Bell and Hayden Bell and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
August 15, 1951 – November 15, 2024
NOCONA – Rhonda Duncan Ford, 73, died Nov. 15, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service will be at noon Nov. 21 at the Joy Cemetery, 8830 Old Joy Shannon Rd, Henrietta, TX 76365, with Bro. Rex Cobb officiating
She was born on Aug. 15, 1951, to J.M. and June Duncan in Amarillo. She attended Vernon Regional Junior College obtaining her nursing license as a licensed vocational nurse. She worked for many years at nursing homes around Bowie. In the 90’s she went to work for Dr. Len Dingler in Nocona and the Nocona General Hospital for a while. She married Bobby Ford on Aug. 10, 1979.
She is preceded in death by her parents, J.M Duncan and June Duncan; her husband of 41 years, Bobby Lee Ford; sister, Gail Schenk; daughter, Teresa Quillen nd newborn son, Floyd Alan Ford.
She is survived by children, Kenneth Ford, David Ford, Clarissa Fletcher and Amie Mankhambira; one son-in-law; 14 grandchildren; sisters, Jamie Baack, Mica Duncan Thomas and Sharla Gallion; one sister-in-law and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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