CREMATION OR CEMETERY ???

Obituary for David Earl "Butch" Capps

A ceremony to celebrate the life of David Earl “Butch” Capps will be 
conducted at 2 PM Saturday, October 25, 2014, at the Pine Tree Church 
of Christ. A time of visitation with the family will be held at Rader 
Funeral Home, Longview from 5 to 7 PM on October 24. David died October 
18, 2014, from complications of multiple myeloma. 

David was born December 4, 1940 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the middle 
child of Jess Willard and Marion Capps. He was given the name “Butch” by 
a hospital nurse before he was named by his parents because of his size, 
weighing over 11 lbs. The family moved to Houston, Texas, when he was 2 
years old and then to East Texas in 1953. (David always kidded that he got 
to Texas “as soon as he could.”)

He graduated from New Diana High School in 1959, attended Kilgore College 
and the University of Texas at Arlington. He worked in the purchasing 
departments of several area companies including Trailmobile, U.S. 
Industries, Lone Star Steel Co., Texas Die Casting and LeTourneau, Inc. 
before retiring in 2002.

David enjoyed backpacking and climbed seven 14,000 foot mountains in 
Colorado and Washington State. He also hiked the Grand Canyon twice. He 
enjoyed playing golf, watching college sports, especially his favorite 
Texas Longhorns. He coached Little League baseball and in recent years 
enjoyed watching his grandchildren play softball and baseball. After 
retirement, he and Glenda enjoyed traveling to many places in our beautiful 
country and most recently a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland. He was 
a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and loved spending time with 
his family. Most importantly, David loved the Lord and strived to be 
Christ-like in everything he did. He served as both a deacon and elder at 
the Pine Tree Church of Christ of which he and Glenda were charter members 
in 1964. He regularly taught Bible classes and was an avid student of the 
Bible having read and studied from 13 different translations over the years. 
He wrote introductions to many of the books of the Bible which are used by 
those who participate in a Bible Reading program at the Longview Church of 
Christ where he is currently a member.

David regularly volunteered at the Caring & Sharing Benevolent Center. He 
helped coordinate golf tournaments to benefit Medina Children’s Home and 
has participated in other benevolent programs in the area. He had a 
wonderful sense of humor and people enjoyed being around him. He loved to 
tell jokes and friends never knew whether he was serious or not. 

David was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 
55 years, Glenda Martin Capps; daughter Dr. Rhonda Oeters and husband H
arry of Greenville, North Carolina; son Steve Capps of Huntington Beach, 
California; and daughter Linea Weaver and husband Jim of Marshall, Texas; 
grandchildren Rikki Oeters, Greenville, North Carolina and Jim William 
and Jack Weaver, Marshall, Texas. He is also survived by his sister 
Shirley Smith and husband Bill, Longview; brother Jimmy Capps and wife 
Trena, Mt. Pleasant; sister Sandi Foster and husband Sid, Longview; and 
sister Janice Schellinger and husband James, Caddo Mills, Texas. He is 
also survived by sister-in-law Charlotte Cargil and husband Danny of 
Diana, an uncle, Charles Capps of Birmingham, Alabama, an aunt, Minnie 
Moudry, Birmingham, Alabama as well as many cousins and nieces and nephews.

The family wants to thank Dr. Larry Frase and the staff at the Longview 
Cancer Center for the care they provided during this 4 1/2 year battle, 
the wonderful nurses at Longview Regional Hospital as well as Heartsway 
Hospice who helped with his care. Also, to our many friends for their 
concern and support and area churches for their prayers on David’s behalf 
and the many calls, cards and visits.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Caring & 
Sharing Ministry, c/o Pine Tree Church of Christ, 3221 Dundee Rd., 
Longview, TX 75604 or the East Texas Myeloma Support Group, c/o Ed & 
Carolyn Evans, P.O. Box 775, Whitehouse, TX 75791.