Submitted by: Rev. Marshall M. Bell
WARDSWORTH ALBERT SODERS, II
FEBRUARY 8, 1993
SERVICE FEBRUARY 12, 1993
Wardsworth Albert Soders II of Marlin, Texas was the
oldest son of the late William Albert Soders and Ida Harkum Soders.
He was baptized at an
early age at Marlin Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon until
his passing.
Albert attended the
public schools of Marlin, Texas, completing his high school training at Booker
T. Washington High School. He attended Prairie View A&M College, the University
of Colorado at Boulder and Huston - Tillotson College, where he received a B.A.
degree in chemistry. He received his M. Ed. from Texas Southern University and
studied further at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. He was
Superintendent of Schools in Springfield, Texas prior to serving in the Army Air
Corps during World War II. Following the war, he returned to Marlin and operated
Soders' Grocery and Market for a number of years. He served on the faculty of
Booker T. Washington High School and later Marlin High School, until his
retirement in 1975. Following retirement, he operated Soders' News Agency until
1987.
As an active
participant in the community, he served as Cubmaster of Pack 298 of Marlin
Missionary Baptist Church. He was a member of Hopeful Masonic Lodge #78 F & AM
for more than fifty years, where he was secretary for over thirty years. He was
a member and former Joshua of Hiawatha Court #183, Heroines of Jericho and Royal
Arch Masons. He had also belonged to the Savings Club and Gurley Newton Post
#916 American Legion.
He was preceded in
death by his brother, James O. Soders and wife, Myrtle Thompson Soders.
Survivors include: two
daughters, Carolyn S. Cooper of Houston, Texas and Alberta Elsenia S. Young of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; three sons, Wardsworth A. Soders III of Leland, North
Carolina, Melton V. Soders of Boston, Massachusetts ad James R. Soders of
Houston, Texas; two sons-in-law, Chester Cooper of Houston, Texas and James
Young of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; three daughters-in-Iaw, Carolyn B. Soders of
Leland, North Carolina, Linda J. Soders of Boston, Massachusetts and Gayle
Soders of Houston, Texas; eight grandchildren, Kevin and Terri Soders of Leland,
North Carolina, Justin A. Young of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Brian and Andrea
Soders of Boston, Massachusetts, Lance and Ja’ Nayle Soders and Williams
Matthews of Houston, Texas; a sister-in-law, Velma H. Soders of Los Angeles,
California; cousins, Lillie English of Houston, Texas, Austin Kitchen of Los
Angeles, California and Larnita and Helen Gerald of Dallas, Texas; close mends,
Catherine Ratliff, Mable Tyrone, and Rebecca Drake of Marlin, Texas and Maurice
Hunter of Tacoma, Washington; and other relatives and friends.
