H.L. Futch

HL Futch Jr. was born fourth in line to Henry and Nancy Futch on their farmstead on March 25, 1926.  He joined his sister and two older brothers as they worked the country store and later the ranch in Dickens, Texas.  When HL was fifteen years old, his little sister Nan Jo surprised the family with her arrival. This event helped start HL on his pathway of service as he assisted his mother in cooking, cleaning and caring for others.

At eighteen years old, HL felt the call to serve.  After graduation in 1944, he attempted to volunteer for service in the Army but was denied because his two older brothers were already serving their country.  In fact, his oldest brother Merle made the ultimate sacrifice in Italy later that year.  This denial caused a temporary deviation in his path as he decided to attend Hardin Simmons University pursuing sports and music.  He spent one year in Abilene then transferred to Texas Technological College.

Texas Tech proved to be a challenge that prompted HL to enlist in the Army again in 1948.  This time determination paid off and he was dispatched to Fort Ord, California, for basic training. After a cross country train ride through the land of opportunity, he arrived at Camp Lee, Virginia, to attend clerk typist training which fit his reserved personality perfectly.

Another train ride took him to Seattle where he boarded a boat for the University of Alaska.  This snowy wonderland would set the stage for life-long love. In addition to his typing responsibilities for the Army ROTC program, HL devotedly volunteered at the First Baptist Church in Fairbanks, Alaska.  It was in this faith-filled community that he found the love of his life, Lois Chappell.

After accepting a position as a missionary from the Southern Baptist Convention, Lois found herself serving the families at the Fairbanks church. This North Carolina native had no idea that she would stumble into love on the steps of that very church. She was scheduled to return home for her sister’s wedding in August but instead chose to have her own wedding on the same day just two short months after meeting HL.

With the onset of the Korean War, HL’s commission was extended an additional year in which they welcomed the birth of their son, Wayne Futch.  The small family served in Alaska until 1952 when the Army paid for both HL and Lois to attend Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas. During this time of committed study, Lois earned her Masters of Divinity and HL finished his degree in music.  As they finished up their schooling, they found that Alaska was calling them back.

This Alaskan life was not to be and in 1957, HL and Lois returned to the Hub City to lead the singing in multiple churches around the area.  At this time, HL also joined the Postal Service as a walking postman where he served faithfully for 26 years. Lois also served the community as a Bible teacher at Monterey High School for 23 years.  During this time, HL’s committed love to his wife was seen in his attempts to bring a little bit of North Carolina back to Texas.  With trumpet vines, roses, hummingbird feeders and bird baths, HL’s love was tangibly seen around the house and garden.  Lois often said, “He doesn’t have many words but I see his love in the fresh roses on the table.”

Even in retirement, the duo served those around them. HL and Lois held church services with singing and devotionals for the elderly in local nursing homes. Acts of service were passed on to their grandchildren who joined in the singing at the “old folks” homes in the summer.  Work was balanced with rest, as they were once again able to travel the country and see the beauty in nature.

Even after the passing of his love in 1994, HL quietly continued to offer his strength and service to his loved ones.  He kept the roses and green things growing in profusion both in the house and outside.  His story is one of service and love for his country and family as well as a quiet determination to press through life’s difficulties.  HL Futch was a man of quiet strength.

H.L. is survived by daughter, Marsheila (Bryan) Copeland; grandchildren, Brad (Christin)Copeland, Rachelle (Shawn) Fulkerson; great-grandchildren, Alexandra (Aidan) Mueller, Brandi (Kaleb) Flores, Brianna Fulkerson, Bobby Copeland, Stephen Fulkerson, Josiah Fulkerson, Ethan Fulkerson, Nicholas Copeland; sister, Nan Jo Burnam.

He is preceded in death by wife, Lois Futch; parents, Henry and Nancy Futch; son, Wayne Futch; and three siblings.

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