The Record-Journal Online
OBITUARIES
Abe Dirks
Our father, Abe Dirks, was born on Dec. 12, 1917 to Enoch and Hannah Koehn Dirks at Winton,
Calif. He peacefully passed away on the evening of May 15, 2013 at Noxubee General Hospital,
in Macon, Miss. reaching the age of 95 years. Funeral services were planned for Mon., May 20,
2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Southern Star Mennonite Church in Geiger. Interment was held in Souls
Chapel Cemetery in Geiger. Visitation was held at the church Sun., May 19, 2013 from 6:30 to 8
p.m. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Manor, P.O. Box 325, Brooksville, Miss. 39739.
Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon, Miss. is entrusted with arrangements.
Dad was the fifth in a family of ten children. His childhood years were spent in Winton, Calif. until
the age of eight when he moved with his family to Durham, Kan. It was there where he received
his education. After the difficult Depression years, the family moved to Bonners Ferry, Ind. in
1937. He was drafted into service during World War II, and spent some time in a C.P.S. Camp at
Belton, Mont. before enlisting in the Navy where he became a cook on a troop-transport ship. In
the next years he traveled to Alaska, across the Pacific Ocean, to the Philippines and Japan.
After his discharge in 1946, he returned home with a desire to find the Lord and join the church.
God graciously forgave him, and he was baptized into the Church of God In Christ, Mennonite on
Jan. 3, 1947.
Dad was faithful to the vows he made until his death. Dad found his life’s companion in Mable
Lavonna Unruh and they were married by his father on Sept. 25, 1949. They purchased a farm
near Bonners Ferry, growing hay and grain. He supplemented their income by working at a saw-
mill, logging, and various other jobs. Dad worked hard to provide for our mother and us six
children.
We remember him as a quiet man, showing his love to us in deeds rather than words. He was
cheerful and optimistic in the face of adversity.
In 1977, Dad sold the farm in Idaho and we moved to the Geiger area. Here he farmed with his
two youngest sons until he retired. Dad loved nature and the outdoors, observing the birds and
gardening. In his later years he enjoyed creative wood working, building many items for his
grandchildren.
In 1995, Dad and Mom moved into a new home in the town of Geiger where they enjoyed their
last years together. After 53 years of marriage, Mother passed away leaving Dad lonely. He
moved to Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, Miss. as the first resident of that facility. As Dad’s
health declined, he received loving care from the staff at Oakwood Manor, which was much
appreciated by the family.
He is lovingly remembered by his children: Donna Dirks of Newbern, Galen and Anne of
Gainesville, Clinton and Linda of Geiger, Rodney and Bonita of Emelle, Pauletta and Larry
Boese of Macon, Miss., Eugene and Luella of Geiger, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren,
his sisters, Marjorie Unruh, and Doris and Ervin Jantz of Bonners Ferry, Ind.
JOE DANIEL "JD" WILSON
JOE DANIEL "JD" WILSON, age 64, of York, Alabama, born in Choctaw County to the parentage
of Alonzo Curl and Margaret Jobeth Ward Wilson, passed May 17, 2013 in the V. A. Medical
Center, Birmingham. Service of remembrance will be held Saturday morning, May 25, 2013 at 11
a.m. from Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church, 112 Curl Road, York, with Rev. Charles H.
Delaine, pastor, delivering the eulogy. Interment follows with military honor detail in the Wilson
Family plot of Ward Chapel Cemetery. Mr. "JD" will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled Friday evening (May 24) from 4-7 p.m. in the
Weatherly Chapel. The processional leaves from the Wilson residence Saturday morning at 10:
40. After the committal service repast is in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
To the Wilson family, we at Weatherly Funeral Home offer to each of you our most sincere and
heartfelt sympathy. Our prayer remains that your abiding faith in God will continue to comfort,
strengthen and sustain you during your time of most profound sorrow.
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