I76839: Vivian Alvin BECK (14 Oct 1866

Notes

The Tulia Herald, 5 August 1948

V. A. BECK, FATHER OF MRS. ARMSTRONG, BURIED AT KRESS

Funeral services for Mr. V. A. Back, 81 year old resident of Plainview, were held Wednesday afternoon, July 28, in the Kress Baptist Church.

Mr. Beck, a pioneer plainsman and a resident of Kress for 35 years before moving to Plainview four years ago, died Monday in the Plainview Hospital after a four week illness.
Mr. Beck was born in Mena, Arkansas, October 14, 1866, and moved with his parents to Texas at the age of nine. In his early youth he joined the Baptist Church and was active in religious work as long as he was able to attend services.

He was married July 20, 1898 to Lenora Cobler of Zephyr, Texas. To this union were born six children, two of which preceded him in death. One son died in infancy and Bert C. died two years ago. Survivors are the widow, four daughters, Mrs. W. A. Skinner, Hooper, Nebraska; Mrs. J. H. Hamilton, Clovis, New Mexico; Mrs. Maude Behrends, Plainview, Texas; Mrs. Frank Armstrong, Tulia; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Beck of Roswell, New Mexico; 20 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; two brothers, George Beck, Amarillo and D. S. Beck, DeLeon; three sisters, Mrs. W. G. Batts, Plainview; Mrs. Will Reid, Roswell, New Mexico; Mrs. Ada Paul, West, Texas; also a host of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Beck and family moved to Kress in 1909 and he was Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He was a member of the Plainview Masonic Lodge and that group conducted his graveside services.

Pallbearers were Tom Bagley, Dennis Zimmerman, R. H. Wells, Carl Losson, Alvin Stokes and J. E. Braselton. Honorary pallbearers were members of his Bible class in Kress and other members of the Masonic Order.
Burial was in the Kress Cemetery under direction of Roy G. Wood Funeral Home.

The family of V. A. Beck moved to Swisher County in 1908, in a covered wagon, moving to Kress from Post City, Texas. The oldest daughter (Ruby) and her husband Rex Robinson were already located in Kress, so the family had a place to stay until they could find a place. Other members of the family were Bert, Vera, and twins Maude and Claude.

Bert was married to Nellie Davenport, both are deceased. They had 5 children.
Vera was married to J. H. (Buck) Hamilton. They had 8 children who are all living.
Maude was married to Rank Behrends, deceased. They had 2 children. Claude (Chuba) was married to Otto Behrends, deceased. They had one child. Ruby and Rex had 5 children - two deceased. Rex died many years ago, and later Ruby married W. A. Skinner. Both are deceased. Later Chuba married Frank Armstrong. He had 5 children by a previous marriage, all living except one.

Our Dad did carpenter work, worked on windmills all over the country, and later ran a blacksmith shop for many years. He was postmaster at Kress for 8 years, also had a small grocery store in the same building. Mom, or "Ma Beck" as she was affectionately known, helped Dad in the Post Office while Dad took care of the store. Farmers and ranchers from miles around would come to town to spend the day, and eat their lunch in the store as there were no such thing as a cafe then. Dad also was Justice of the Peace for many years.
There were not many families living there at that time, and we had been living in Kress about a year. Some of the school trustees told the folks that they needed we twins to help make up enough scholars to start the school. So after a lot of thought the folks decided to let us go, although we were too young.

The first school building was two stories, and the younger ones, with one teacher, were downstairs, and the older pupils with another teacher were upstairs. Our first teacher was Miss Allie Skipworth, later Mrs. Arch McDaniel.

Some of the families were the D. M. Wood's, J. A. Hamilton's, J. F. Moore's, F. T. Skipworth's, J. C. Bagley's - Gayler's, Jordan's and Houser's to name a few. Kress gradually grew into a small town, and although small the people were always happy and friendly.
Our Dad and Mom were both always interested in the town's progress, and helped in any way they could to promote the growth of the town and surrounding area. Both too were always busy in church affairs and helped as much as possible to make the town a better place to live. Dad was a member of the Baptist church and Mom the Methodist.

The Methodist church was the only building for many years and all faiths worshipped together, there. Most every summer a big revival was held in an open arbor. These were always well attended.

Dad was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and Mom was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, as long as they lived. Each year Dad was elected delegate to Grand Lodge held in Waco, Texas. He did this as long as his health permitted.

After their health began failing they moved to Plainview to be nearer Maude who had moved there with her two children, also to be closer to the Doctor since there was none in Kress. After my folks lived in Plainview for several years, the Baptist church in Kress began building on a new sanctuary, and some of the members went to Plainview picked Dad and Mom up and took them to Kress to turn the first spade of dirt for the new foundation. Thus showing the love and respect they had for our Dad and Mom.

Our Dad died in 1948 and Mom died in 1952. Both died in Plainview but are buried in Kress, in the town they loved so much. Our family was not a wealthy one, nor did we crave wealth; but each child was given love, and taught to love and respect our fellowmen, and most of all to have a faith and trust in God.

By Mrs. Frank (Chuba) Armstrong

My Southern Family

Vivian Alvin BECK

14 Oct 1866 - 26 Jul 1948

ID Number: I76839

Notes

Sources

Lee DEHART

Elizabeth DUPUY

ABT 1770 - ____

ID Number: I23493

Sources

Jep HUGHES

ABT 1860 - ____

ID Number: I19577

Sources

William Earle PLYLER

John STILLY

ABT 1820 - ____

ID Number: I36097

Sources

Nancy Caroline STRIBLING

ABT 1840 - ____

ID Number: I67556

Sources

Sarah "Sally" TURNER

21 Dec 1788 - 27 Apr 1874

ID Number: I71472

Notes

Sources

Sir WILLIAM de WILLOUGHBY

1245 - BEF 29 Mar 1300

ID Number: I54952

Notes

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