Information about the deaths of the following alumni was received in the Office of Development and compiled by Susan Apple. Please send information to University of North Texas, Alumni Records, P.O. Box 311250, Denton, Texas 76203-1250, send e-mail to amayer@unt.edu or fill out the online form.

Click on the names for more information.

1920s [ top ]

• Glenn Whittenberg (’27 M.S., ’39), Gatesville. He was a schoolteacher and principal for 45 years. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
• Rebecca Davis Cage (’28, ’57 M.A.), an Antonio. Her 47-year teaching career included works at Harlandale and Highlands high schools.
• Olga Chadwell Murley (’28), Winnsboro. She taught high school English for 42 years, including more than 25 years at W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas.

1930s [ top ]

• Lucille Hayes Duncan(’31), Franklin. She retired from teaching after 21 years, working at Hamilton, Sweeny and Franklin high schools.
  
• William F. Perkins (’32), San Antonio. He was a U.S. Army dentist for 24 years and later served as chief of dental surgery at the San Antonio State Tuberculosis Hospital.
• Thelma Cockerill Dittert (’33), El Campo. She taught in Dawson, Rains and Gaines counties and retired from the El Campo ISD. At North Texas, she was president of the Latin Club.
• Florence Wilkinson Low (’34), Lufkin. She began work as a landscape specialist with the Agricultural Extension Service in 1945 and went on to become assistant director of extension and head of the Department of Home Economics at Texas A&M University.
• Marguerite Mitchell Jarrell (’36), Dallas. She taught art for many years and after retirement pursued her interests in drawing, painting, design and travel.
• Cozette Penney-Burgess (’36), Glendale, Ariz. She taught school in Ranger for 17 years and later taught biology and nutrition at Lee College in Baytown. She was a world traveler and visited more than 40 countries.
• Thelma J. ‘Pete’ Stewart (’38), Fairview. She taught school for several years in West Texas and then became a real estate broker until her retirement.
• Martha Fay McCary (’39), Frost. She retired in 1970 after teaching in Denison, Groves and Beaumont schools.
• A.D. Surles Jr. (’39), Palestine. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and retired in 1978 from the Missouri Pacific-Great Northern, Union Pacific Railroad.

1940s [ top ]

• Leafy Elnora Leach Denton (’40), Van Alstyne. She taught school for many years in Van Alstyne, Melissa and Palmer.
• Virginia J. ‘Ginny’ Barber Veazey (’40), Terrell. She was active as a leader in both Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. While at North Texas, she played the violin in the Symphony Orchestra.
• James Wesley Yarbro Sr. (’40), Fort Worth. After serving as a pilot during World War II, he worked as an auditor and formed his own company as a CPA and financial consultant. He was an authority on oil and gas taxation.
• Nell Goodman (’41), Dallas. She taught school for 40 years, including 21 years as a fourth-grade teacher at Rosemont Elementary School in Dallas. She was an avid gardener.
• Mamie Joe Jenkins (’41), Fort Thomas, Ky. She was a primary school teacher for 40 years, first teaching in Wichita Falls and then in Dallas.
• Jewell W. Malone (’41), Borger. She was a teacher and administrator for the Borger school district for 43 years.
• Margaret Munz (’41, ’58 M.S.), Moody. She taught for 45 years, teaching fifth and sixth grades, and later helped her sister on the family farm.
• Harriet Pruitt (’42), Dallas. She taught in public schools in Texas for many years and then worked for Lone Star Gas as a home economist.
• George Thompson (’42 M.M.), Nacogdoches. He was in the Army Air Corps during World War II and later served in the Texas National Guard. He retired from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1990, where he had served as director of teacher certification and professor of secondary education.
• Margret Frisby Revis (’43 M.Ed.), Corsicana. During her career, she taught classes from the kindergarten to college levels. She also taught English as a second language. After retiring in 1975 she was active in civic affairs, painting and gardening.
• Georgia Nell Elliott Watson (’43), Blossom. She retired after teaching homemaking for 26 years. She taught Sunday school for more than 55 years and played the piano for more than 30 years at the Blossom First Methodist Church.
• Betty Anderson Elder (’46), Arlington. She taught math for 22 years and after retirement was a computer programmer for her husband’s insurance company.
• Dorothy Kannon Ashworth (’47), New Braunfels. She received her degree in music education from North Texas.
• Taylor C. Judson (’47), Corsicana. He joined the Marines during World War II and was selected as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Band. After attending North Texas, Judson worked in the insurance business until retirement.
• Joseph Truncale (’47), Beaumont. He was a professor of voice and opera at Lamar University for 43 years and was the founding director of the Beaumont Civic-Lamar Tech Opera Theatre. He met and married his wife, Ruth Henderson, while a student at North Texas.
• Ray Wideman (’47), San Antonio. He taught and coached football for a number of years in West Texas before moving to San Antonio to become a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety. He later taught history and driver’s education.
• Mary Jane Dowse (’48), Ponca City, Okla. She received her degree in elementary education from North Texas.
• Jane Jackson Gillis (’48), Caldwell. She was a librarian and teacher for more than 30 years.
• Tom Land (’48), Fort Worth. He was in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a prisoner of war in Germany. He worked as a salesman for State Life Insurance Co. until retirement.
• Lewis Robert Crosier (’49 M.S.), Mineral Wells. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II and was a retired coach, teacher and rancher.
• Louis Hemphill (’49), Columbia, Mo. He was a Professor Emeritus in the School of Engineering at the University of Missouri, retiring after a teaching and research career.
• Bobbie Lee Robertson Martin (’49), Midland. She taught school and then went on to work in the State Library in Santa Fe, N.M. After moving back to Texas, she was active in the PTA.
• Verne M. Schuhart (’49), Big Sandy. He served as a naval aviator during World War II. He retired from Mobil Oil Corp. in 1983 and was later elected to the Harmony ISD school board.
• Amy Morrison Thompson (’49, ’51 M.B.Ed.), Brunswick. She served as captain in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II and the Korean War. After graduating from North Texas, she was a guidance counselor and educator.
• Kitty Buttram Williams (’49), Spring Branch. For more than 20 years, she was a real estate agent in the West Houston area.

1950s [ top ]

• William ‘Bill’ Allen (’50), Van. He served in the Army in World War II and was retired from Tyler Pipe.
• Loyd H. Cokendolpher (’50), Burkburnett. He retired from the personnel office in civil service at Sheppard Air Force Base after 30 years of service.
• Thomas Clifton DeFord (’50), Pilot Point. He practiced dentistry in Irving for many years before retiring to Pilot Point.
• Rhea L. Nichols (’50), Mart. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot during the Korean War. He practiced medicine until his retirement in 1996.
• Patsy Sue Johnson Umphres (’50), Stephenville. She received a degree in home economics from North Texas and went on to teach.
• William Henry Lightsey (’51), Lancaster. He was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base during the Korean War and remained there for 30 years in civil service, working in special instrumentation in test pilot school.
• William T. Bolin (’52, ’56 M.S.), Lewisville. He served in the Navy during World War II and worked as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent, retiring from the Lewisville ISD.
• Doris Irvin (’53), Moody. She devoted 44 years to the education profession, teaching first grade in Mercedes, Eagle Pass and Port Arthur and retiring from the Waco school district.
• Benny Castloo Sr. (’55), Mineola. He served two years in the Army in Japan after college and went on to run the family furniture business until retirement. He then traveled extensively, always with his golf clubs.
• Jodie Dannelley Canaris (’56 M.S.), Eagle Lake. She taught first grade in the Highland Park school district for most of her teaching career.
• Wayne D. ‘Pinky’ Canuteson (’57), Dallas. He worked in various accounting positions for 30 years at Dallas Power and Light Co. He had played football at Clifton High School and was recognized in 2000 as one of the top players in the history of Central Texas high school football.
• Thomas Donald Harris Sr. (’57), McKinney. He served in the Army during the Korean War. After retirement from Crown Zellerbach/James River Corp. and the Dole Food Co., he returned to cattle ranching.
• Herman H. ‘Bud’ Hopkins (’57), Arlington. He served in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. After graduating from North Texas, he began work as a high school basketball coach and finished his career in Fort Worth, where he worked as a teacher and administrator until his retirement.
• Jeannine C. Hogan Hopkins (’57), Arlington. She worked as an art and gifted-talented teacher in the Fort Worth ISD. She met her husband, Herman H. Hopkins, while at North Texas.
• James C. McDougal (’57), Irving. He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity while at North Texas. He owned and operated Jewell Printing Co. in Dallas for more than 20 years.
• Edward Thomas Moore (’57), Austin. He was an officer of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity while at North Texas. He spent 14 years in the airline industry and many years as a recruiter for private companies.
• William B. ‘Sam’ Houston (’58), Bedford. He retired from General Dynamics after 30 years in the engineering department. At North Texas he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
  
• Paula Patterson Graham (’59), Sherman. She was a speech pathologist for the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults for 21 years. She was also a church pianist and was active in the Sherman Community Players and the Villagers Chorale.

1960s [ top ]

• Tim Donley (’60), San Marcos. He taught school for many years. He and his wife worked as missionaries with the Navajo in New Mexico in the early 1960s.
• Georgia ‘Ray’ Couch Hussong (’60), Kaufman. She taught first grade in Mesquite for 26 years after receiving her degree in business education from North Texas.
• Beth Ann Bodkin (’61), Pottsboro. She taught for many years in the Richardson, Birdville and Richland school districts.
• Mary Nelms (’62), Plainview. She taught school in McCamey, Spearman and White Deer before retiring in 1975.
• Pollye Ruth West Pearson (’63), Corsicana. She was a lifelong music teacher.
  
• Robert W. Moore (’65), Plano. He was a relocation specialist for Remax and a Vietnam veteran.
• Shirley King Carter (’66), Athens. She taught school for 22 years in the Athens ISD.
• Maurice Ervin Owen (’66, ’72 M.Ed.), Arlington. He was a science teacher at Arlington High School and received numerous honors during his 22-year teaching career.
• Owen D. Roane (’67 M.S.), Valley View. He was a World War II B-17 combat pilot, completing 28 missions. He retired from the Air Force in 1963 as a lieutenant colonel and began a 20-year career as a mathematics teacher, principal and superintendent.
• Robert M. Gardner (’68), Waxahachie. He was employed as an accountant in Minneapolis for 20 years after receiving his degree in accounting from North Texas.
• Mary Jacque Craig (’69), San Antonio. She was a flight attendant and then went on to teach health and special education in the Dallas, New Orleans and Lyle school districts.
• Harlan Jordan (’69), Terrell. He was a freelance television actor until the time of his death.

1970s [ top ]

• James Michael Keller (’70), Fulshear. He was a CPA and former president and treasurer of the board of directors of the Katy ISD.
• Edmund Simbeck Sr. (’70), Denton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired after 30 years of teaching.
• John Sheldon Spence (’71), Skellytown. He worked in marketing in the oil and gas industry after receiving his degree in business at North Texas.
• Wanda Nell Trimble (’73 M.Ed.), Hico. She taught for 27 years, retiring from Haltom High School in 1994.
• Bailey Marcus Ely (’74), Saginaw. He received his degree in industrial arts from North Texas and was employed by Whip Industries as a computer numerical control programmer.
• David Ray Yates (’74), Crowley. He was a teacher in the Crowley ISD and most recently taught community education and staff development and served as web master and instructional technology leader.
• Rose Finkle (’75), Browns Summit, N.C. She received her degree in secondary education from North Texas.
• Karen Green Gutierrez (’77), Plano. She had taught for five years in the Irving ISD and was a preschool teacher at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church in Carrollton. At North Texas she was a member of Omicron, which became Pi Beta Phi sorority.
• Travis Victor McClinton II (’77), Dallas. He began his teaching career at St. Luke’s Catholic School in Irving and taught in Dallas before returning to the Irving ISD.

1980s [ top ]

• Douglas Gene McCray (’80), Duncan, Okla. He was a matrix administrator for Halliburton Energy Services, working more than 20 years with computer systems for the company. He studied accounting and information systems at North Texas.
• William B. ‘Bill’ Jones (’82), Pinos Altos, N.M. As a photojournalist, he worked on the North Texas Daily, the Denton Record-Chronicle and the Lufkin Daily News. Later he became a radiology and CT technician, working in Austin, Alpine and Silver City, N.M.
• Samuel Marvin Crossley (’83 Ed.D.), Hurst. He was a former youth director, minister of education and consultant for the North Texas and Central Texas conferences of the United Methodist Church. He taught history at community colleges in Dallas and Fort Worth.
• Barthene Adams Pearce (’83 M.Ed.), Dallas. She was a bookkeeper, secretary and teacher for years. She then worked for the Dallas County Agriculture/Horticultural Office until her retirement, when she became a Master Gardener.
• Catherine Jane Tooley (’83), Sherman. She was a fourth-grade teacher at Crutchfield Elementary School.
• Stewart Michael Smith (’84), Plano. He was in the Naval Air Force and was a sonar and radar operator during the Vietnam War. He was employed as a computer operator after graduating from North Texas.

1990s [ top ]

• William Price Birkhead (’92), Lawrenceville, Ga. He was director of safety for Frito-Lay in the Southeast and won numerous national awards for his expertise in the trucking industry.
• John Dwight Greenhill (’92), Carrollton. He worked as a manager for Peterbilt Motors Co.
• Sharon Lehmann (’93 Ph.D.), Denton. She was a music teacher for Lakeview Elementary School in Trophy Club and prior to that taught in Krum.

2000s [ top ]

• Chad Smith (’01 M.S.), Dallas. He was a Marine for several years and was employed by Carlson Capital LP. He was also a trainer for the K-9 Unit of the Denton Police Department and other area departments.

University Community [ top ]

• A.C. Greene, Salado, Director Emeritus of the Center for Texas Studies at UNT, 1986-1991. Greene came to Dallas in 1960, writing first for the Dallas Times Herald and later for the Dallas Morning News. His weekly "Texas Sketches" column for the Morning News began in 1983. A fellow of the Texas Institute of Letters and the Texas State Historical Association, he served as resident professor of Texas studies at UNT and coordinating director of the Center for Texas Studies. Professor James Ward Lee, who served as director of the center, called him "the acknowledged dean of Texas letters." Of the more than 20 books Greene wrote, six were published by the UNT Press, which he helped to establish in 1987. The press's A.C. Greene Series of books on Texana commemorates his legacy.
• Mark E. Rorvig , Denton, associate professor of library and information sciences, 1995-2002. Rorvig was nationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of information retrieval. From 1990 to 1995, while serving as an adjunct professor at UNT, he worked as a computer engineer for NASA at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. His research focused on deciphering large amounts of information and finding new ways to piece it together. He produced four U.S. patents on information retrieval algorithms. Rorvig earned a bachelor's degree in English at Seattle University, a master's in library service from Columbia University and a doctorate in information studies from the University of California at Berkeley. At UNT, he led the master's program in information systems.