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Submitted: 12/5/23 • Approved: 12/7/23 • Last Updated: 12/10/23 • R588356-G0-S3
Eldon Fortenberry
May 12, 1936 - October 23, 2023
Married May 1, 1956
Parents of:
Stephanie, Steve and David
*Obituary
Eldon Fortenberry, 87, of Hereford, Texas, passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023, in Amarillo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at the Hereford Nazarene Family Church with Pastor Ted Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at West Park Cemetery under the direction of Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home. A Viewing and Visitation will be on Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Eldon was born on May 12, 1936, in Floyd County, Texas to Robin and Ruth (Gill) Fortenberry. He attended school in Lockney and graduated from Lockney High School. Eldon married Nelda (Vititow) Fortenberry on May 1, 1956, in Plainview, Texas. They moved to Hereford in 1972. Eldon was a member of the Hereford Church of the Nazarene.
To most he was Eldon, to many he was “Big E” or “Uncle E” but to a blessed few, he was Poppa. He saved some of his biggest smiles for Christmastime, when his children and grandchildren filled the house and gathered around a Bible and a piano. He was a cheerful giver, both in the gifts he gave and the memories he made with his family.
One of the best decisions Poppa ever made was to give Nelda Vititow a ride home one night to a church service. He said it was “love at first sight,” and their love held strong for over 67 years. Three generations reaped the benefits of their long and faithful marriage.
Poppa taught his family the value of hard work. He followed the apostle Paul’s charge to “live quietly, mind your own affairs and work with your hands.” As a farmer and roofer, he showed his children and employees how to put in an honest day’s work. As a Sunday school teacher and volunteer in his community, he showed his faith in word and deed. In his later years, the working man became an artist. He crafted stars and crosses out of cowboy boots and signs out of welded tools. He gave his artwork to family, friends, and charities that were dear to his heart. In all he did, he used his hands for good.
Few can remember a time when Poppa complained. Many can remember a time he was there when they needed him most.
If you opened up Poppa’s Bible, you would find well-worn pages from daily reading. You would see underlined verses and notes in the margins. You would read passages he read as a young husband that he went on to read at his grandchildren’s weddings. Holding his Bible and watching his life were one and the same. He lived out the pages before our very eyes and made us better people in the process.
Poppa fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the prisoner. Never have we known a man more deserving of the welcome his Savior gave him on Monday evening: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.”
We will miss him deeply, but, as Poppa said, “we have been and we are blessed.” In that vein, Poppa’s favorite hymn was Count Your Blessings. Among those blessings he counted were his wife of 67 years, Nelda Fortenberry of Hereford, Texas; children, Stephanie Sanders and her husband Roger of Theodosia, Missouri, Steve Fortenberry and his wife Becky of McKinney, Texas, and David Fortenberry and his wife Talley of Plainview, Texas; six grandchildren, Monica Holcombe and her husband Wade of Wright, Missouri, T.J. Sanders and his wife Vanessa of St. Louis, Missouri, Stephen Fortenberry, Jr. and his wife Kelli of Forney, Texas, Tracy Cooney and her husband Jason of Conway, Arkansas, Hunter Fortenberry and his wife Cari of Plainview, Texas, and Robyn Jackson and her husband Terry of Plainview, Texas; ten great-grandchildren, Danton and wife Katie, Kevin, Hallie, Lorelei, Christopher, Jack, Timothy Eldon, Simon, Everett, and Amos; brother Durrel Fortenberry of Lockney, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Eldon is preceded in death by his parents Robin and Ruth Fortenberry and sister Darlene Fortenberry.
After Eldon’s battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy; in lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to CurePSP, 325 Hudson St., 4th Floor, New York, New York 10013, www. psp.org, or a charity of your choice.
Obituary was lovingly written by granddaughter Tracy Cooney.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com
Obituary located through online archive of Mendez & Mullins Family Funeral Home Hereford, Texas. Published Oct 2023 © 2018 - 23 Mendez & Mullins Family Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
Contributed on 12/5/23 by denise.bratcher63
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Record #: 588356