March 4 Obituaries

Virginia Ruth Pittman, 77

Virginia Ruth Pittman, 77, of Moriarty died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, in Albuquerque.

She was born on May 26, 1926, in Kingston, Okla., to John Felix and Mattie Sanders Lea.

She married I.W. Pittman on Feb. 12, 1946, in Portales. In 1966 they moved from Bethal to Moriarty to pastor the First Baptist Church. They retired in 1983.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter; and a brother, Billy Joe Lea.

Survivors include two sons, Bill Pittman (an wife, Mollie) of Moriarty and Ronnie Pittman (Patty) of Gilbert, Ariz.; a daughter, Linda Zepeda (Mike) of Conroe, Texas; a brother, Pete Lea; two sisters, Mildred Hill (John) and Coezetta James (Tom); eight grandchildren, Lori Cooper (Roger), Stephanie Frentzel (David), Christina Ringo (Brad), Cassie Esenberger (John), Doug Zepeda, Kyria Encinias (Cris), Jennifer Pittman and Kristopher Pittman; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Chris Brannan officiated the services.

Burial was at Mountain View Cemetery in Moriarty.

Arrangements were by Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Moriarty.

Martha Willene Rogers, 71

Martha Willene Rogers, 71, of Hobbs died Monday, March 1, 2004, in Hobbs.

She was born on March 15, 1930, in Clarksville, Ark.

She married Willie O. Rogers Sr. on Feb. 12, 1962, in Portales. Family members said she enjoyed fishing, her race horses, playing cards and her family and home.

Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Andrea Kemp of New Caney, Texas, Sandra Grzywacz of Logan, Virginia Graham of New Caney and Patty Rogers of Clovis; two sons, Willie O. Rogers Jr. of Hobbs and Terry Rogers of Fort Stockton, Texas; two sisters, Gwen Kirkmeyer of Hobbs and Benejean Hamilton of Huntington, Ore.; a brother, Larry Powell of Texico; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Chapel of Hope in Hobbs. The Rev. Bruce McBee will officiate the services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist’s Children’s Home in Portales.

Arrangements are by Chapel of Hope Funeral Home of Hobbs.

Obituary Policy

The Portales News-Tribune does not charge to publish obituaries. Space constraints and deadlines may limit what is published. Information for obituaries must come from funeral homes.