Bennie Walter Addicks (1915 - 1967)

Born 22 Sep 1915 in Colorado Co. Texas

Husband of Mary Annie (Wanjura) Addicks — married 31 Oct 1936 in Colorado Co. Texas

Died Apr 1967 at age 51 in Colorado Co. Texas

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chere Lee [send private message]

Burial

New Bielau Cemetery, Colorado County, Texas, USA [1]

Obituary

Suicide Ruled In Death of Bennie Addicks

Justice of the Peace H. W. Hasse Sr. returned a verdict of suicide in the death Saturday morning of Bennie Addicks, 51-year-old New Bielau farmer.

Mr. Addicks was found by his two sons, Lawrence and Franklin, who had been helping him with the milking on the family’s well-kept Grade-A dairy farm. Lawrence’s home is on the adjoining place and Franklin still lives at home, attending Wharton County Junior College.

The tragedy occurred at 5:45 a.m. Mr. Addicks was found behind a shed, a 30-30 rifle beside him. He had been shot in the head.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, April 24, at Hubbard Funeral Home, with interment in the New Bielau Cemetery. Rev. Frank Horak officiated.

Mr. Addicks was born Sept. 22, 1915, south of New Bielau, a son of Albert and Bertha Paweleck Addicks. He married Miss Mary Annie Wanjura on Oct. 31, 1936, and they settled at New Bielau. Won Farming Honors

Ten years ago this month Mr. Addicks was recognized as “Conservation Farmer of 1956” of Colorado Soil Conservation District, for the way he and his family had started with a few acres of poor land and built their operation to a highly successful Grade-A dairy. He went on to be named one of the top 25 conservation farmers in Texas, chosen from the 172 district winners. WW II Vet

Before settling on his own farm he had served two years in the army during World War II, receiving his discharge in 1944, and had worked on the R. T. Herin ranch near Weimar for six years.

Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mary Addicks; the two sons, Lawrence and Franklin; two brothers, Oscar of Weimar and Fred of Eagle Lake; and a sister, Miss Donnie Addicks of Yoakum. Two brothers, Louis and Robert and a sister, Mrs. Leona McMillan, preceded him in death.

Pallbearers were Alvin Prause, Joe Adamcik, David Wanjura, Victor Wanjura Jr., Sylvester Bittner Jr., and Kermit Thuemler.

Weimar Mercury, April 27, 1967, page 1

Sources