   John A. Yankovich 16 November 1922 - 12 August 2010 Melba G. Yankovich 19 May 1926 - 14 February 2023  Funeral services for John Arthur Yankovich, 87, of Sherman, Texas, were held Saturday afternoon, August 14, 2010 at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman with Scott Sides, minister of the Collinsville Church of Christ officiating. Burial followed at the Gordonville Cemetery. John passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at the Homestead Nursing and Rehab Center in Collinsville. John was born November 16, 1922 in Russellton, Pennsylvania. He was the fifth child of Nick and Rose Gasparovich Yankovich, both first generation immigrants from Coatia. Each of his 4 sisters and 1 brother were given short single names at birth. As a young adult when he entered military service, he was required to have a middle name, so he chose Arthur, taken from his readings of "King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table." He proudly served his country as a member of the 86th "Black Hawk" Infantry division of the Army from February 1943 until March 9, 1946. He was a demolition specialist and radio operator. He was stationed in Franch, Germany and Austria. He was in Mariapfarr, Austria where the ringing of the bells took place celebrating VE Day. This is also the town where "Silent Night" was written. Before overseas deployment, John was stationed at Camp Howze in Gainesville, Texas. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Melba Lewter, who lived in Gordonville. They were married on August 11, 1946 in Sherman, Texas and celebrated 64 years of love and marriage together. Following their marriage the couple established their home in Sherman where John went to work for the Sherman Democrat. He later worked for IBM for 29 years and relocated with the company to Lexington, Kentucky, Endicott, New York, and Austin, Texas, where he retired. While in Sherman, he earned an Assoicate Degree from Grayson County College by attending classes at night. He was a charter member of the Wood Street Church of Christ in Sherman and a current member of the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin. John was preceded by his parents; brother, Frank Yankovich; sisters, Ann Klucka, Betty Rose, Mary Bliz and Rose Radocaj. Survivors include his devoted wife of Sherman; son-in-law, Hazel Davidson of Sherman; several nephews and nieces whose great affection and respect for their "Uncle John" was always evident; a number of great-nephews and great-nieces, their spouses and children; numerous extended family members; and a host of friends. Pallbearers were Layne Lewter, Dorsey Jack Lewter, Austin Lewter, Lucas Lewter, Whit Dieterich and Bob Liner. Honorary pallbearers were Noel Lewter, Justin Lewter, Jon Williams, Dennis Davidson and John Nelson.  Melba Gloria Yankovich, 96, of Sherman passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 14, 2023 after a brief illness. Her parents were founding members of the Gordonville Church of Christ where she was baptized June 17, 1940. Melba graduated from Whitesboro High School in 1944. She was a teenager when she get a young GI from Pennsylvania named John Yankovich, son of a European immigrant coal miner. She was the daugther of a North Texas sharecropper. They courted while John was stationed at Camp Howze. He was later sent back overseas during which time he wrote Melba a lettery every day while he was deployed. They married August 11, 1946 in Sherman, Texas. The love affair ensued until his death in 2010. Melba worked for Roberts, Sanford and Taylor for more than 20 years. She designed and published their sales catalog. John's job at IBM took them all over the country before settling at Austin in 1980. Aunt Melba doted over 4 generations of nieces and nephews. She was most happy in the fellowship of family and friends; and she would graciously host company at the drop of a hat. She was the family historian and an astute genealogist. She was proud of her Grayson County roots and often recalled stories of how the Lewter clan settled at Gordonville shortly after the Civil War. Melba and John were charter members of Woods Street Church of Christ in Sherman and former members of Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin. In addition to her husband and parents, Melba was preceded in death by brother and sister-in-law, Dorsey Clay and Dorothy Lewter; and sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Hugh Davidson. She is survived by niece, Linda Nelson and husband, John, of Sherman; nephew, Dennis Davidson and wife, Georgia, of Winfield, Alabama; niece, Sherry Dieterich and husband, Whit, of Shady Shores, Texas; niece, Terry West and husband, Bob Liner, of Houston; nephew, Layne Lewter and wife, Carrie, of Whitesboro; niece, Noelle Williams and husband, Jon, of Corinth, Texas; nephew, Dorsey Jack Lewter and wife, Jo, of Collinsville; nephew, Michael Davidson and wife, Brianne, of Vienna, Virginia; nephew Ryan Davidson of San Diego, California; and numerous other nieces, nephews and extended family. A funeral service was held Sunday afternoon, February 19, 2023 at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman officiated by Scott Sides, minister of Collinsville Church of Christ. Interment followed at Gordonville Cemetery. Pallbearers were Layne Lewter, Dorsey Jack Lewter, Justin Lewter, Austin Lewter, Jess Lewter and Jackson Lewter. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Noel and Jacquita Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Collinsville Education Foundation, P.O. Box 595, Collinsville, Texas 76233.  Gordonville Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |