Mr. Wendell Dover, 83, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2005, at the Ennis Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
He was born May 29, 1921 in the Byrd Community, the son of Charlie D. and Ruth Whatley Dover. He was reared in Byrd where he worked on the family farm. He served in the European Theater during World War II in the Army Air Corp. in England, Belgium, France and Germany. After the war he returned and became a carpenter. On Nov. 13 he was married to Nettie Lee Lyon of Waxahachie. He later went to work for the Ellis County Sheriff's office as a Deputy Sheriff. He retired from the Ennis Police Dept. as a detective. He was an avid hunter, being a lifetime member in the National Rifle Assoc. After retirement, he worked for the US Postal Service, carrying and picking up the mail in Bardwell.
He is survived by his beloved canine companion, Huggie; niece and caregiver, Nona Beth Hawkins Jurica of Ennis and niece, Cynthia Dover Milby of Spendora, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a sister, Elva Hawkins and brother, Edmumd Dover.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Keever Chapel with Charles Hodge officiating. Interment will be in the Grady Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Valek, Frank Jurica, Mike Bates, C.T. Vinson, Brent Milby and Dwain Jakubik. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Joe Curry and Dean Dover.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight.