Reburial Rites for Dickens County Boy
Remains of T.Sgt. Claude Varnell, accompanied by military escort will arrive in Spur, Saturday at 1:45, and will lie in state in the Chandler Funeral Home until Sunday afternoon. Under the direction of the V.F.W., assisted by the American Legion, a full military service will be conducted, in the Patton Springs School, Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Rev. T.A. Dunn, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Crosbyton, assisted by Rev. L.L. Hill, local minister and chaplain of the V.F.W. will officiate.
©The Texas Spur, August 26, 1948
Transcribed June 7, 2005 by DCHC MembersReburial Rites for T-Sgt. Varnell
Final rites for T-Sgt.Claude Varnell were held August 29 at 3 p.m. in Patton Springs Auditorium with Rev. T.A. Dunn of Crosbyton and Rev. L. L. Hill, pastor of Spur First Methodist Church, officiating.
Graveside military rites were conducted by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spur.
T. Sgt. Varnell was killed on January 19, 1945, on Luzon. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in May, 1944, and was post-humously awarded the Silver Star in January, 1945.
T. Sgt. Varnell was born December 12, 1917, at Afton and lived in Dickens County until his induction into the Army.
Surviving besides his mother, Mrs. Lucy Varnell of Afton, are three brothers, Loy, Whiteriver, AZ; Lester and Richard, Afton; one sister, Mrs. Ethel McCarty, Afton.
Pallbearers for the funeral were ex-service men from the Afton community, including Ocie Lee, Ferrell Smith, D.W. Sims, Jr., Jim Tom Haney, Dumont Bridge and Gilbert Ragland.
Chandler Funeral Home directed arrangements and interment was in the Afton Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, September 2, 1948
Submitted by Waynell Harris
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