Vernon Martin Suggs

Vernon Martin Suggs, 92, died Aug. 23, 2012. He was born in Wagoner, Okla., to Jim Criss and Novvie Mable (Potts) Suggs.

He married Thelma (Hunt) Suggs in Dewey, Okla., on Dec. 31, 1940.

He was an electronic foreman at Kelly Field in San Antonio, retiring in 1975. He began work at Kelly Field in 1942 when it was known as Duncan Fielde. He loved his job and retired at 55 with 32 years of service, mainly because his division was being moved and he didn’t want to leave Texas.

He was served in the Air Force from 1944 to 1946 and was loading to go overseas when the World War II ended. He enjoyed those two years in the service but was ready to come home to two sons and his job at Kelly Field.

He moved to Kingsland and the Llano River in 1975 and never regretted it.

He was a deacon at Kingsland First Baptist Church and served as Sunday school general secretary for about 20 years. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge for 52 years. He was active in the National Association Retired Federal Employees as treasurer for 26 years and helped with filing income tax for AARP for a few years.

He had a 1963 green Chevrolet pickup that he loved — almost as much as family — as well as his little dog and a few special cats.

In addition to his wife of 71 years, survivors include sons Vernon Suggs Jr. and wife Beverly of San Antonio and Ronald “Lynn” Suggs and wife Linda of Garden Ridge; daughter Alice “Gayle” Conger and husband Leo of Temple; brother Russell Dewayne Suggs; sisters Gloria Rickman and Carole Martin; grandchildren Jessica Suggs, Jenevieve Zoch and husband Frank and Zac Conger and wife Lisa, all of San Antonio, Jason Suggs of Lompoc, Calif., and Natalie Barrett and husband Joseph of Italy, Texas; great-grandchildren Michael Suggs and Peter and Sidney Zoch of San Antonio; step-great-grandchildren Jasmine, Roxann and Taylor Ng, all of San Antonio.

The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at Llano Hospice for their service and love. They could tell some good stories about him.

A funeral service was Aug. 25 at Kingsland First Baptist Church with the reverends Bubba Stahl and Dwight Reagan officiating. A Masonic graveside service followed at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park in Burnet.

Pallbearers included Vernon Suggs Jr., Lynn Suggs, Russell Suggs, Dr. Leo Conger, Zac Conger and Joseph Barrett.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Share the Harvest at Kingsland First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1137, Kingsland, TX 78639, or to a charity of choice.

Condolences may be sent to whhfuneral1@verizon.net or made at www.whhfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Homes, 900 Industrial Blvd. in Kingsland, (325) 388-6767.