Homer Rieathbaum

A funeral service for Homer Virgil Rieathbaum of Hobbs, N.M., will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday; Dec. 11, at First Baptist Church of Hobbs. Pastor Wade Rials will officiate.

Burial will follow at Prairie Haven Memorial Park.

Homer Virgil Rieathbaum, 77, passed away on Thursday; Dec. 6, 2007, at Lubbock Heart Hoshy;spital in Lushy;bbock, Teshy;xas. He was born May 17, 1930, in Harrisburg, Ark. He married HiIda on June 3, 1951.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Hobbs.

Virgil was a man of God and family and gave of himself completely to both. His grandchildren called him Papa and the loving term stuck and so for all his life he instantly became Papa to hundreds of those who met him and instinctively adopted him as their own. He was married to his loving wife, Hilda, for over 56 years and together they raised their family in and around Hobbs.

Virgil was as giving to his friends as he was to his family. He cherished his friendships and was always there to help in any way; from lending a hand in work, an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, or a voice of praise.

He was a deeply devout man of God, witnessing to many throughout his life, serving as an ordained deacon at the First Baptitst Church of Hobbs for many years, and giving freely of his time to visit with the sick, elderly and lonely. In addition to his work with the church, Virgil freely volunteered his time where it was needed and was a longshy;time board member of Manna Outreach. Virgil was heavily involved in his church's Sunday school encounter class and all the members of his class will serve as honshy;orary pallbearers.

Papa will be missed and remembered with love by famshy;ily, friends and all who ever met him and whom were touched by his life. Virgil Rieathbaum was quite simply Papa to all.

Survivors include his wife, Hilda Rieathbaum of Hobbs, N.M.; son, James Rieathbaum of Lubbock, Texas; daughter, Linda Hoyl and husband Benny of Hobbs, N.M.; grandshy;daughter, Misty Funk, husband Kenny and great-grandshy;daughter Taylor of Hobbs, N.M.; grandson, Brian McNerlin and wife Melanie of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Christene and husband Bill, Mary Kathreine and husband Austin and Evelyn; brothers, Don and wife Joe, Carty and Jerry; three stepgrandchilshy;dren, Andrea, Shalisa and Greg and their families including Papa's six step great-grandchildren; and two great - great -grandchildren; many, many nephews and nieces; and the hundreds of those who came to know and love him as simply Papa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers one sister and many loving friends.
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