William Zeb Kirkland
William Zeb Kirkland passed peacefully into his heavenly home on March 6, 2019, after a short illness at his home at Gustine.
On March 30, 1931, William Zeb was born at home to Zeb and Julia Pierson Kirkland in Gentry’s Mill, Hamilton County. He grew up on the Kirkland Farm that has been in the family since 1884. He attended first through fifth grade in Gentry’s Mill school, then sixth through twelfth in Hamilton and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1949.
William served his country proudly in the US Army, serving with the 510th Field Artillery in Salzburg, Austria, from 1952 to 1954.
William met and fell in love with Betty Patton. They were married March 30, 1953, and loved each other for the next 65 years. They raised three beautiful, wonderful, intelligent children.
In 1960, a friend persuaded him to attend barber school in Fort Worth. He finished school in July 1960 and began barbering on the square in Comanche for the next 59 years. His legacy will continue with his granddaughter, Elizabeth Diaz, whom he had the pleasure of working beside for the last seven months.
William was a member of First Baptist Church Gustine. In younger years, he was a member of Comanche Jaycees. He has been a member of the Comanche Chamber of Commerce, a proud member of the VFW, Sons of American Revolution, Gustine ISD school board for nine years, and was currently serving on the Gustine City Council. William also served on various Gustine community organizations.
William is preceded in death by his parents, Zeb and Julia Kirkland.
He is survived by wife Betty of Gustine; three children, Pam and Robert Hurt and Pat and Randy Denning, all of Gustine, and Dr. Kyle and Marlene Kirkland of Brownwood; five grandchildren, Randall Denning, Elizabeth Diaz, Erika Kirkland, Nick Lyle and Mark Lyle; five great-grandchildren, Blake Denning, Layne Hicks, Sydnee Diaz, Emery Kirkland-Hamilton and Twister Diaz; a brother, Leonard and Ethel Kirkland of Gentry’s Mill; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 9, at Comanche Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Zac Harrel officiating and Rev. Calvin Gray assisting. Burial was in Union Cemetery in Comanche County.
If desired, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Gustine, P.O. Box 152, Gustine, Texas 76455.
Janice Belvin
Janice Elaine Clark Belvin, 72, of Clifton passed away Monday, March 11, 2019.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, in Live Oak Cemetery, Hamilton County.
Janice was born Aug. 8, 1946, in Dallas. She lived in Hamilton until her marriage to E. J. Belvin from Purmela.
She worked as the bank manager in Clifton most of her adult life. She was a hard worker and survived the sale of the bank three times. After heart surgery, she was told to cut back to half-days, so she cut back to 12-hour days. She said she always looked up at the sign outside the bank when she arrived to see who she worked for. When she retired in 2011, Bank of America closed the bank in Clifton.
Her home church was Our Savior’s Lutheran. She volunteered weekly at the Pot of Gold and at the Central Texas Fair in Clifton. She loved spending time with her great-grandkids and grandkids. She was very special and loved.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Monty and Jason Belvin; and parents Norman and Genevieve Clark.
She is survived by her husband, E.J.; brother Norm; son Troy and wife Janet; granddaughter Brittany and husband Justin; grandson Ty and wife Amanda; great-grandchildren Brayden, Camden, Kaelyn, Karter, Ethan and Tytan.
Memorial donations may be made to the Central Texas Youth Fair or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be made at www.cliftonfh.com.
