John William Wilde
A good man, John William Wilde, went to heaven on January 9, 2014. John was born March 13, 1948 in San Angelo, Texas to Edwin Joe and Cordula (Strube) Wilde. He attended Wall schools and graduated in 1966. During high school, he participated in FFA and 4-H where he was awarded the Star Farmer. He also played baseball and loved raising and showing pigs, a passion he continued throughout adulthood. John attended Angelo State University for two years and transferred to Texas A&M, where in 1970, he attained a degree in Agricultural Education. Upon graduation, he moved back to Wall where he farmed with his family raising cotton, wheat, and milo.
While in college, his sister Melanie, introduced to him to the love of his life, Betty Jo Book. They were married at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo in 1975. John continued his career in farming, along with his wife, two sons, and two daughters. They raised pigs, cotton, milo, wheat and corn at their farms in Concho, Tom Green, Reagan, Pecos, and Glasscock counties. During his farming career he was named Conservation Farmer in 2004 by the Tom Green County Soil and Conservation District. Along with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Texas Farm Credit, the Wilde family was able to install 850 acres of subsurface drip irrigation boosting cotton yields to four bales per acre. 
John received numerous awards from Fiber Max Cotton Seed for his top yielding cotton crops, winning multiple One Ton Club awards. Through his work with Texas Agricultural Extension Service, John played a vital roll in finding an effective fungicide that controls cotton root rot by allowing researchers to test fungicides on an irrigated test plot on his farm.
John was selected as the Southwest Region Winner of the 2013 Farm Press High Cotton Award. This prestigious award is given to four cotton growers nation-wide that have achieved high cotton yields and farmed profitably while using environmentally sound production practices. 
Following his recovery from thyroid cancer surgery in 2007, John was selected to participate in the Western Producer Information Exchange Tour. He, along with a group of farmers, toured facilities and farms in Arizona and California. John and Betty Jo were also privileged to participate in a sponsored tour of the National Cotton Council facility in Raleigh, North Carolina.
John valued his faith and family above all else. He was baptized a Catholic at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall, and he continued practicing his faith there until his death. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served many years as an usher during Masses. His favorite all-time job was ushering for the parish festival because of the many different people he was able to visit in one day! John also served on the parish council.
Meeting and visiting with people was always his favorite pastime. He was the unofficial welcoming committee at St. Ambrose. There was seldom a guest or new member not greeted by him as they left the church. He cherished attending all family reunions and discussing genealogy--his and everyone else's. During his many visits to M.D. Anderson, he made life-long friends with not only the doctors and nurses, but the parking attendants and receptionists. 
Some of the happiest memories John had were those he spent hunting for deer and turkey and fishing on the family deer lease. A lifelong dream came true when he was able to tour Germany with his family. He was able to visit the church and town where his Wilde ancestors lived and worshipped. John adored his precious granddaughters and loved giving horsey rides on his legs to Caroline while singing, "Hoppe, Hoppe Reiter," a German verse that his dad taught him.
John was preceded in death by his parents Edwin and Cordula Wilde and sister, Melanie Franklin. John is survived by his loving wife, Betty Jo. Together they were blessed with four children, Douglas and his wife Sarah, Matthew, Julia and husband Jerry Garcia, and Joanna; and two granddaughters Caroline and Anna Kate. He also leaves behind two brothers, Donald and his wife Ruth, and Dale and his wife Laura, and brother-in-law Rusty Franklin, and numerous nieces and nephews. John is also survived by friends too numerous to mention and was described by a dear friend with the following words: "… you were an inspiration to us all. Your personality and character were a joy to be around. In plain country English, you were a real 'square shooter.'"
John selected his dearest friends as pallbearers: Keith Davis, Dennis Fuchs, Arnold Matthiesen, Rick Minzemeier, James Seidenberger, Ricky Strube, and Harvey Wilde. His honorary pallbearers are Herbert Biederman, Lional Felts, Ernest Hildebrandt, Dr. Derrill Stuart, and Walter (Pete) Wilde.
He was privileged to have so many talented caretakers. The family would like to especially thank Dr. Derrill Stuart and Dr. Denver Marsh of San Angelo; Dr. Steve Sherman, Vicki Orin, RN and the rest of his M.D. Anderson team; Odyssey Hospice; and Diana Hernandez, Sandra Chappa, and Annie Ornelas.
A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, January 12, 2014 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall, Texas with visitation to follow at the parish hall. His Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in San Angelo, Texas with burial to follow at the St. Ambrose Cemetery in Wall, Texas.
Memorials in John's honor may be directed to St. Ambrose CCD Building Fund, P.O. Box 228, Wall, Texas 76957 or West Texas Rehabilitation Center.
Family and friends may sign our online guest book at www.johnsons-funeral home.com.

Kenneth L. Newman, 65, of San Angelo, known as “Poppi” to his children and “Newman” to everyone else, entered into eternal life January 6, 2014. 
A memorial service will be held, 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 10, at the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo with the Reverend Bill Proctor officiating. Arrangements are by Robert Massie Funeral Home. 
Newman was born, December 4, 1948, to Frank and Lois Newman in San Angelo. He graduated from Central High School; San Angelo College, and then received his Master of Education degree from Angelo State University. While attending Central High School, Newman was a member of the 1966 State Champion football team coached by the great Emory Bellard. He played alongside Randy Stout, Gary Mullins, Darrell Kirkham and Rudy Izzard and remained friends with his teammates for a lifetime. 
Newman married Kathy Jo Hardegree on July 18, 1980. This was the beginning of their careers as educators in Eldorado and where they raised their two daughters, Gentry and Emily. 
Newman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Eldorado where he served as Elder and later became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo where he served as Deacon. 
He was a teacher, counselor, and administrator for over forty years from grades kindergarten through high school. Specifically, he was principal and counselor in the Schleicher County Independent School District for more than two decades and most recently as an administrator with the Veribest Independent School District. He currently was serving as elementary principal after being their high school principal for 6 years. 
He was not only concerned about the education of the children, but also their needs and emotional well-being. When he saw a child sitting alone he would make sure someone sat with them. Sometimes that meant he would sit alongside them. 
Newman had an impact on many lives including both students and teachers. His influence will be seen for generations to come due to his mentorship, friendship and guidance. 
Newman had a love and passion for many things such as the beautiful Devil’s River, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and gardening. He was a master gardener and he never gave up on a plant, just like he never gave up on his students. He was a true lover of God’s creations. 
Newman had many qualities that we cherish to remember. He was a hard worker that persevered to the end. He was fun loving, matter of fact, had a unique sense of humor with a smile on his face. Newman would always tell his girls that he loved them more than once, but would never say goodbye. He would leave them notes expressing encouragement and pride. He spent countless hours and traveled many miles to support his girls with whatever endeavor they were involved. 
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lois Newman. 
He is survived by his wife Kathy; daughter, Gentry Leigh Fields and husband Tanner of New Braunfels, daughter Emily Katherine Newman of San Antonio; sister-in-law, Mickey and husband Scott McGregor of Eldorado; nieces Angie and husband Steve Plemons of Midland, Caty and husband Will Pickett of Fort Worth; mother-in-law, Bettye Hardegree of Sonora; Aunts Francis Newman, Eddie Mae and husband, Gregory Economidis of San Angelo. 
The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to the nurses of ICU at Community Medical Center for their professionalism and genuine care of Newman in his last few days. 
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, or the charity of your choice. 
The most useful asset of a person is not a head full of knowledge but a heart full of love and hands willing to help. 

Raul “Roy” Rodriguez, 20, of San Angelo, passed away on January 11, 2014 in San Angelo.

Roy was born Jan. 5, 1994.

A Prayer Service will be held on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the “Remembrance Chapel” Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North. Interment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North.

Survivors include his parents, Raul Rodriquez of Shreveport La., Angelina Alvarado of San Angelo, his son Fabian Jayden Rodriguez. Other survivors include his two sisters Jo Ann Alvarado and Brandy Alvarado both of San Angelo.

Ely Del Rio, 23, of San Angelo, passed away on January 11, 2014 in San Angelo. 

A Prayer Service will be held on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the “Remembrance Chapel” Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North. Interment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Gutierrez Funeral Chapels/North. 
Survivors include his parents Frank Del Rio of San Angelo, and Diana Del Rio of San Antonio. Other survivors include his two sisters Melonie Del Rio and Yesenia Del Rio both of San Angelo.