Dellis Ernest Higginbotham

He was born on May 24, 1919, in Van Zandt County, Texas, to George Benjamin and Mattie Era Higginbotham. He was the youngest and last surviving of nine children.

Dell joined the Army in 1941 and served as an MP in the 751st MP Battalion. He met and married his wife of 67 years, Crystal (Cris) Lauer, while stationed at Fort Custer in Augusta, Michigan. He served in England, Belgium and France during the war. He was on a troop ship waiting to go through the Panama Canal headed for the Pacific when victory was declared in Japan. A few days later the ship was rerouted to Norfolk, Va.

Following the war, the young couple moved to Texas. He was employed at the Celanese Plant in Bishop in Plant Protection for 37 years. He was an avid golfer and helped design the Chemcel golf course.

He was a lifetime member of the Texas Peace Officers Association, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Elk's Lodge. He was active in the First United Methodist Church of Bishop.

He was preceded in death by his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Robert Morgan of Bishop; son, Ronald Higginbotham of Karnes City; granddaughter, Maggie Higginbotham of Austin; and step-grandson, Sean Lusko of Angleton.

He is survived by his wife, Cris of Bishop; his son, David (Beverly) Higginbotham of Angleton; daughter-in-law, Linda (Gary) Patterson of Boerne; grandchildren he raised, Robert Clint Morgan and Ashley Higginbotham, both of Bishop; grandchildren, Carl Higginbotham of Austin, Virginia (Manuel) De La Rosa of Kyle, Eden Higginbotham of Boerne; and step-grandsons, Isaiah and Austin Lusko of Angleton; great-granddaughter, Jamie De La Rosa of Kyle; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, April 10, 2011, at the Turcotte Mortuary in Kingsville. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2011, at Restland Cemetery, Bishop, with the Rev. Phil Robberson of the First United Methodist Church of Bishop and Dell’s nephew, the Rev. Donald Higginbotham of Fredericksburg officiating. Military Honors provided by the Veterans of Kleberg County Military Funeral Detail will take place at the conclusion of the graveside service.

Pall bearers will be Clint Morgan, Carl Higginbotham, Marvin Aduddell, Jim Presley, Stephen Presley, and Dave Bergquist.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The First United Methodist Church, Bishop, Texas.

Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.