Arthur T Veal

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Original First Baptist Church Building of Amarillo with Dr. Howard Batson, senior pastor, officiating.

Graveside services and interment will be at Childress Cemetery in Childress, Texas at 3:00 pm, Saturday, October 18, 2014 by Griggs-Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell.

Arthur was born March 26, 1918 in Farmersville, Texas to James Delbert Veal and Lula Virginia (Sims) Veal. His early childhood was spent in Amarillo and as a teen he moved to Childress where he met his best friend and love of his life, Ethel Pirtle. They were married October 24, 1936 in Childress and were 2 months shy of their 70th anniversary when Ethel passed away. Arthur owned the Childress Paint and Body Works for 45 years. The couple were avid Childress Bobcat fans and held the same reserved football seats for over 50 years. They also enjoyed playing games and traveling together. He was proud to be a lifetime member of the Lion’s International. He and Ethel were active members of the First Baptist Church in Childress where he enjoyed his men’s ministry group. In 1995 he and Ethel retired to Roswell, NM to be close to family and became very active in the First Baptist Church and many civic organizations in Roswell. The couple sang in the Senior choir and were members of the Senior circle at the church where he won 1st prize for his pecan pie 2 years in a row at the Senior Men’s bakeoff. Arthur was a member of the Eastern New Mexico Medical Hospital circle. In 2004 they moved back to Amarillo and in 2011 he moved to The Craig Retirement Center after her passing.

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Ethel Veal; a son Bill; 3 brothers and a sister.

Arthur is survived by his daughters, Diana Newberry and husband Dr. Jerry Newberry of Spokane, Washington and Louise LaGrone and husband Tommy of Amarillo; grandchildren, Sandra Veal Jobert and husband Mick of Frisco, Texas, Kimberly Gines and husband Matt of Clayton, Washington, Steven Meek and wife Karen of Spokane, Washington and Greg Meek and wife Jennifer of San Antonio; a sister, Valera Williams of Amarillo; great-grandchildren, Marla McCurley and husband Clifton of Frisco, Lori Jobert of Sherman, Mattea, Macey and Kaylin Gines of Clayton, Wa, Trevor Meek of Ft. Benning, Ga, Kasi Meek of Seattle Wa, Michelle Meek of Dallas, Ashley Meek of San Antonio, and Madelyn Manlove of San Antonio: 4 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.