Alan Spinks

After a valiant fight with cancer, Alan Spinks went peacefully to be with his Lord on Sunday, June 12, 2005.

Alan was born January 23, 1935 to Bob and Gertrude Edwards Spinks in Luling, Texas. He spent a very happy childhood in Harwood, Texas and graduated from Gonzales High School in 1953. Alan attended Texas Tech University, and supported himself by working for his older brothers in the West Texas oil fields. Soon after graduating in 1959, he met and fell in love with Helen Golladay while she was teaching elementary school in Monahans, Texas. They married May 28, 1960 and he joined her father, Ben Golladay in farming. Ben was not only Alan's father-in-law, but also his best friend and mentor. Farming became one of Alan's passions, and he continued farming until the day of his death. After Helen's death in 1995, Alan married Michelle Hembree Wilcox on June 7, 1996. He gladly took on the role of father to her children Michael and Danielle.

Alan's love of the outdoors defined him. He was an excellent hunter, motorcycle rider, and water skier. He spent countless hours collecting arrowheads, and was an outstanding landscape painter; but his favorite pastime was snow skiing with family and friends. Alan taught numerous people how to maneuver the slopes of Colorado. He was a beautiful, graceful skier, and he taught others with patience and skill.

Alan loved his Lord, his family and his country. He taught 6th grade Sunday School at First Baptist Church for over 40 years and served that church as a Trustee, usher, and in many other capacities. He was a man of deep integrity and honesty. His older brothers and their comrades who served in World War II were his heroes and he was intensely patriotic. He served his country in the Army National Guard. But Alan's pride was in his children and his grandchildren. He invested a great deal of his time in them and his favorite memories were made skiing with all of them.

Preceding him in death were his wife of 35 years, Helen Golladay Spinks, his mother and father Bob and Gertrude Spinks, and his older brothers Earl and Robert Spinks.

Left to cherish Alan's memory are his son and his wife, Al and Debbie Spinks and their children Elle, Ben, Maddie and Sam of Midland; Alan's wife, Michelle Hembree Spinks and her children, Danielle and Michael Wilcox of Midland; his brother Leroy Spinks of Odessa, Texas; his sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Sime Hendershot of Gonzales, Texas; his sister-in-law Jean Spinks of Monahans, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He will be missed by his friends and family.

The family will receive friends at Ellis Funeral Home, Wednesday, June 15, 2005 between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.

Graveside services have been scheduled for 9:00 A.M. Thursday, June 16, 2005 at Fairview Cemetery. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday at First Baptist Church with Dr. Gary Dyer and Reverend Bob Hopkins officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home.

Memorials can be directed to Buckner Hearthstone and Family Place, P.O. Box 50872, Midland, Texas 79702.