Reuben Ulric Anstead

Ulric Anstead passed from this life on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at the age of 94. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at the University Church of Christ, conducted by Dr. Eddie Sharp, Don Faver and Dr. Jon Ashby. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Ulric was born in Hill County, Texas on October 20, 1913 to Henry and Ollie Stoker Anstead. When he was one year old the family moved to Ralls, Texas in Crosby County, east of Lubbock. He grew up there and graduated from Ralls High School in 1931. September 15, 1935, Ulric married Opal Botkin, his high school sweetheart, in Ralls, Texas. She passed away on October 7, 1988, after 53 years of marriage. In 1950 the family, which now included two sons, Jerry (1936) and Ronnie (1942) moved to Abilene. Mr. Anstead worked in the automobile business in Abilene from 1950 to 1985. He was an active volunteer for Meals on Wheels and spent time visiting the sick and elderly. Mr. Anstead was a member of the University Church of Christ in Abilene. Ulric was preceded in death by his wife, Opal; his parents, Henry and Ollie Anstead; one son, Richard Jerry Anstead; and two brothers, Lenard Anstead and J.R. Anstead. He is survived by one son, Ronnie Anstead and his wife Nancy, of Bastrop, Texas; one sister, Oleta Lorenzen of Crosbyton, Texas; one brother, W.H. Anstead, Jr., of Ralls, Texas; four grandchildren, Ronalyn Sutphen and her husband Mark, of Abilene, Tonya Hall and her husband Max, of Glencoe, Illinois, Walt Anstead of Bloomington, Indiana, Celeste Lynch and her husband Mike, of The Woodlands, Texas. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made in Mr. Anstead's honor to Meals On Wheels, 717 North 10th Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; or to Christian Homes, 1202 Estates Drive, Abilene, Texas 79602.