Edwin L. "Skip" Skipworth, 92, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 5, 2009.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Kress United Methodist Church in Kress with the Rev. O.K. Neal officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Skip was born May 25, 1916, to James Willis and Lucinda Lavinia Skipworth. He graduated in 1933 from Kosiusco Mississippi High School in Kosiusco, Miss.
When he was 14 years old, he ran away from home in Kress to a cousin's ranch in New Mexico. That memorable summer is documented in Skip's book, "Runaway Cowboy," published in 1997.
After finishing high school, Skip served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in High Rolls, N.M. After he was discharged, he moved to Lubbock and drove the city bus while attending Draughons Business College.
He moved to Glendale, Calif., in 1938, where he became a quality control engineer with Lockheed Corp. He built and installed cockpits in airplanes during World War II. He tried to enlist in the Army, but Lockheed men were "frozen" to their jobs.
When Skip retired in 1974, he was the only Lockheed Quality Assurance Engineer who did not have a college degree.
Skip married Laura Vivian Oneta Wilson in November 1936. Vivian died in August 1981.
Skip married Wilsie Ashton Steger on Oct. 20, 1990, in St. Marks Episcopal Church in Plainview. He had no children.
He was "Poppa" to Wilsie's five children, Jerry Don Ashton, David Leonard Steger, Kevan Russell Steger, Donna Steger-Wortel and Kent Wilson Steger.
Skip was a member of the San Fernando Optimist Club, Encino/Sherman Oaks Optimist Club and South Amarillo Optimist Club. He was Man of the Year in 1990 in San Fernando, Calif. He was formally recognized by the city of San Fernando, the county of Los Angeles, the state legislature of California and the U.S. Congress for his volunteer work in Southern California.
He was a member of the fundraising board of Holy Cross Hospital. He was photographer for those Optimist Clubs and for the Opti-Mrs. of Southern California. He made thousands of pictures for those organizations.
He was volunteer Financial Consultant at Optimist Boys Home and Ranch in Eagle Rock, Calif. He was a board member and treasurer for many years. He spent many hours helping the kids who were in trouble. He loved Southern California, but Texas called him back in 1992.
After authoring a weekly family newsletter called "Godzilla Saturday Report" for 17 years, he decided to put some of his experiences into a book. With much encouragement from the Cactus Club, as he called the weekly newsletter, he did.
He is the author of the book "Runaway Cowboy," which was published in 1997. That book helped renew acquaintances with friends and family members all over the Panhandle and many other places. This was a joy to Skip.
At the time of his death, he has two books recorded in his computer and ready to publish. One book is about Bones Hooks, the last great Negro Cowboy, whom Skip admired greatly. The other book is about Jack Skipworth, Rodeo Cowboy, of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Ship loved his God, his country, his family, his friends and the Staked Plains of Texas. After living in California for 54 years, he and Wilsie came home to the Panhandle, which gave them nurture during their youth.
Skip was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian; and his son David Leonard Steger.
The family suggests memorials be to Kress Cemetery Association, in care of Kress National Bank, P.O. Box 660, Kress, TX 79052; or Olivia's Angels, in care of BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 6, 2009
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Kress United Methodist Church in Kress with the Rev. O.K. Neal officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Skip was born May 25, 1916, to James Willis and Lucinda Lavinia Skipworth. He graduated in 1933 from Kosiusco Mississippi High School in Kosiusco, Miss.
When he was 14 years old, he ran away from home in Kress to a cousin's ranch in New Mexico. That memorable summer is documented in Skip's book, "Runaway Cowboy," published in 1997.
After finishing high school, Skip served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in High Rolls, N.M. After he was discharged, he moved to Lubbock and drove the city bus while attending Draughons Business College.
He moved to Glendale, Calif., in 1938, where he became a quality control engineer with Lockheed Corp. He built and installed cockpits in airplanes during World War II. He tried to enlist in the Army, but Lockheed men were "frozen" to their jobs.
When Skip retired in 1974, he was the only Lockheed Quality Assurance Engineer who did not have a college degree.
Skip married Laura Vivian Oneta Wilson in November 1936. Vivian died in August 1981.
Skip married Wilsie Ashton Steger on Oct. 20, 1990, in St. Marks Episcopal Church in Plainview. He had no children.
He was "Poppa" to Wilsie's five children, Jerry Don Ashton, David Leonard Steger, Kevan Russell Steger, Donna Steger-Wortel and Kent Wilson Steger.
Skip was a member of the San Fernando Optimist Club, Encino/Sherman Oaks Optimist Club and South Amarillo Optimist Club. He was Man of the Year in 1990 in San Fernando, Calif. He was formally recognized by the city of San Fernando, the county of Los Angeles, the state legislature of California and the U.S. Congress for his volunteer work in Southern California.
He was a member of the fundraising board of Holy Cross Hospital. He was photographer for those Optimist Clubs and for the Opti-Mrs. of Southern California. He made thousands of pictures for those organizations.
He was volunteer Financial Consultant at Optimist Boys Home and Ranch in Eagle Rock, Calif. He was a board member and treasurer for many years. He spent many hours helping the kids who were in trouble. He loved Southern California, but Texas called him back in 1992.
After authoring a weekly family newsletter called "Godzilla Saturday Report" for 17 years, he decided to put some of his experiences into a book. With much encouragement from the Cactus Club, as he called the weekly newsletter, he did.
He is the author of the book "Runaway Cowboy," which was published in 1997. That book helped renew acquaintances with friends and family members all over the Panhandle and many other places. This was a joy to Skip.
At the time of his death, he has two books recorded in his computer and ready to publish. One book is about Bones Hooks, the last great Negro Cowboy, whom Skip admired greatly. The other book is about Jack Skipworth, Rodeo Cowboy, of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Ship loved his God, his country, his family, his friends and the Staked Plains of Texas. After living in California for 54 years, he and Wilsie came home to the Panhandle, which gave them nurture during their youth.
Skip was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian; and his son David Leonard Steger.
The family suggests memorials be to Kress Cemetery Association, in care of Kress National Bank, P.O. Box 660, Kress, TX 79052; or Olivia's Angels, in care of BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 6, 2009
Edwin L. "Skip" Skipworth, 92, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 5, 2009.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Kress United Methodist Church in Kress with the Rev. O.K. Neal officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Skip was born May 25, 1916, to James Willis and Lucinda Lavinia Skipworth. He graduated in 1933 from Kosiusco Mississippi High School in Kosiusco, Miss.
When he was 14 years old, he ran away from home in Kress to a cousin's ranch in New Mexico. That memorable summer is documented in Skip's book, "Runaway Cowboy," published in 1997.
After finishing high school, Skip served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in High Rolls, N.M. After he was discharged, he moved to Lubbock and drove the city bus while attending Draughons Business College.
He moved to Glendale, Calif., in 1938, where he became a quality control engineer with Lockheed Corp. He built and installed cockpits in airplanes during World War II. He tried to enlist in the Army, but Lockheed men were "frozen" to their jobs.
When Skip retired in 1974, he was the only Lockheed Quality Assurance Engineer who did not have a college degree.
Skip married Laura Vivian Oneta Wilson in November 1936. Vivian died in August 1981.
Skip married Wilsie Ashton Steger on Oct. 20, 1990, in St. Marks Episcopal Church in Plainview. He had no children.
He was "Poppa" to Wilsie's five children, Jerry Don Ashton, David Leonard Steger, Kevan Russell Steger, Donna Steger-Wortel and Kent Wilson Steger.
Skip was a member of the San Fernando Optimist Club, Encino/Sherman Oaks Optimist Club and South Amarillo Optimist Club. He was Man of the Year in 1990 in San Fernando, Calif. He was formally recognized by the city of San Fernando, the county of Los Angeles, the state legislature of California and the U.S. Congress for his volunteer work in Southern California.
He was a member of the fundraising board of Holy Cross Hospital. He was photographer for those Optimist Clubs and for the Opti-Mrs. of Southern California. He made thousands of pictures for those organizations.
He was volunteer Financial Consultant at Optimist Boys Home and Ranch in Eagle Rock, Calif. He was a board member and treasurer for many years. He spent many hours helping the kids who were in trouble. He loved Southern California, but Texas called him back in 1992.
After authoring a weekly family newsletter called "Godzilla Saturday Report" for 17 years, he decided to put some of his experiences into a book. With much encouragement from the Cactus Club, as he called the weekly newsletter, he did.
He is the author of the book "Runaway Cowboy," which was published in 1997. That book helped renew acquaintances with friends and family members all over the Panhandle and many other places. This was a joy to Skip.
At the time of his death, he has two books recorded in his computer and ready to publish. One book is about Bones Hooks, the last great Negro Cowboy, whom Skip admired greatly. The other book is about Jack Skipworth, Rodeo Cowboy, of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Ship loved his God, his country, his family, his friends and the Staked Plains of Texas. After living in California for 54 years, he and Wilsie came home to the Panhandle, which gave them nurture during their youth.
Skip was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian; and his son David Leonard Steger.
The family suggests memorials be to Kress Cemetery Association, in care of Kress National Bank, P.O. Box 660, Kress, TX 79052; or Olivia's Angels, in care of BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 6, 2009
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Kress United Methodist Church in Kress with the Rev. O.K. Neal officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Skip was born May 25, 1916, to James Willis and Lucinda Lavinia Skipworth. He graduated in 1933 from Kosiusco Mississippi High School in Kosiusco, Miss.
When he was 14 years old, he ran away from home in Kress to a cousin's ranch in New Mexico. That memorable summer is documented in Skip's book, "Runaway Cowboy," published in 1997.
After finishing high school, Skip served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in High Rolls, N.M. After he was discharged, he moved to Lubbock and drove the city bus while attending Draughons Business College.
He moved to Glendale, Calif., in 1938, where he became a quality control engineer with Lockheed Corp. He built and installed cockpits in airplanes during World War II. He tried to enlist in the Army, but Lockheed men were "frozen" to their jobs.
When Skip retired in 1974, he was the only Lockheed Quality Assurance Engineer who did not have a college degree.
Skip married Laura Vivian Oneta Wilson in November 1936. Vivian died in August 1981.
Skip married Wilsie Ashton Steger on Oct. 20, 1990, in St. Marks Episcopal Church in Plainview. He had no children.
He was "Poppa" to Wilsie's five children, Jerry Don Ashton, David Leonard Steger, Kevan Russell Steger, Donna Steger-Wortel and Kent Wilson Steger.
Skip was a member of the San Fernando Optimist Club, Encino/Sherman Oaks Optimist Club and South Amarillo Optimist Club. He was Man of the Year in 1990 in San Fernando, Calif. He was formally recognized by the city of San Fernando, the county of Los Angeles, the state legislature of California and the U.S. Congress for his volunteer work in Southern California.
He was a member of the fundraising board of Holy Cross Hospital. He was photographer for those Optimist Clubs and for the Opti-Mrs. of Southern California. He made thousands of pictures for those organizations.
He was volunteer Financial Consultant at Optimist Boys Home and Ranch in Eagle Rock, Calif. He was a board member and treasurer for many years. He spent many hours helping the kids who were in trouble. He loved Southern California, but Texas called him back in 1992.
After authoring a weekly family newsletter called "Godzilla Saturday Report" for 17 years, he decided to put some of his experiences into a book. With much encouragement from the Cactus Club, as he called the weekly newsletter, he did.
He is the author of the book "Runaway Cowboy," which was published in 1997. That book helped renew acquaintances with friends and family members all over the Panhandle and many other places. This was a joy to Skip.
At the time of his death, he has two books recorded in his computer and ready to publish. One book is about Bones Hooks, the last great Negro Cowboy, whom Skip admired greatly. The other book is about Jack Skipworth, Rodeo Cowboy, of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Ship loved his God, his country, his family, his friends and the Staked Plains of Texas. After living in California for 54 years, he and Wilsie came home to the Panhandle, which gave them nurture during their youth.
Skip was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian; and his son David Leonard Steger.
The family suggests memorials be to Kress Cemetery Association, in care of Kress National Bank, P.O. Box 660, Kress, TX 79052; or Olivia's Angels, in care of BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 6, 2009
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