Obituary for
Alva J. "Jake" Geron
submitted by
Edgle Dyer
| Funeral Services
for Alva J. "Jake" Geron, 91, of Brownfield were held Wednesday,
Jan. 16, at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Land
officiating. Graveside services and burial were at Terry
County Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Brownfield Funeral
Home. He died Sunday, January 13, 2008. Mr. Geron was born on a ranch near Paris, Texas on September 26, 1916, to George E. and Alva Jemison Geron. He graduated from Whitharral High School as valedictorian in 1936, and attended Texas Tech University, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1941. While at Tech, he lettered on the Red Raider basketball team. Mr. Geron was a B-24 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 through 1945. He flew thirteen combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation. He was interned in Switzerland for 8 months in 1943. He attained the rank of Major. While receiving flight training at Lubbock Flying School, Jake met Beth Hamilton, a tech student. They married on May 29, 1944, and settled in Brownfield after his discharge. Mr. Geron worked with the Farmer's Home Administration and Veteran's Vocational School of Terry County before joining the City of Brownfield as City Secretary in 1952. He became Assistant City Manager in 1954 and served as City Manager from 1966 until his retirement in 1983. He was a life member of the International City Manager's Association. He took leadership roles in many regional and state municipal associations. Mr. Geron was a leader in the Lion's Club, lifelong member of the Lion's Crippled Children's Camp, Goodfellows, XYZ Senior Citizens Cenetr, United Way and the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce. He was named Terry County Outstanding Citizen in 1973. He was a member of the Brownfield Masonic Lodge and a Thirty-Second Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He served on the Board of Directors of the First Bank of Brownfield from 1977 until his death. He was a deacon of the First Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for more than 50 years. Mr. Geron is survived by his wife--Beth; one daughter--Lynda Beth and a son-in-law--Joseph Shumate. He is also survived by one brother--Charles of Corpus Christi and one sister--Billie Muse of Burleson. Pallbearers were Dick Fletcher, Jack Pinson, Mike Swain, Jack Cargill, Johnny Willis, Bill McGowan II, Mike Richardson and L.J. Richardson. Honorary pallbearers were Odell Sears, the Directors of the First Bank of Brownfield and Jake's coffee buddies. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund of Brownfield or to Jake Geron Park, City of Brownfield. Brownfield News |