Carl Eggleston
THE ODESSA AMERICAN

9-17-2003

ODESSA — Carl Eggleston departed this life for his heavenly home Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Medical Center Hospital at the age of 102.
Carl was born March 3, 1901, in Denton County to William Franklin and Sarah Elizabeth Casteel Eggleston. He was the oldest son of a family of 11 children. The family moved to Coahoma early in Carl’s life where he met and married Ada Spears, the love of his life, on Dec. 23, 1920.
Carl and Ada were married 76 years until her death in 1997. They had two children, Jarolda and Billy C. both born in Coahoma. In 1934 they moved to Odessa where he made his home until present.
Carl came to Odessa as a mechanic for George Shows Motor Company. He later was employed at Service Parts and Senior Auto as a machinist. In 1963 he retired as a machinist and became an insurance salesman for American Life Insurance selling door to door. He worked for Bob Colin Insurance.
Carl started his own insurance agency and managed it until his retirement at the age of 86. After retirement from insurance he maintained a yard and grew a garden. He purchased three roto-tillers, having worn out two. He always took a 10-year warranty on each one. Having a sixth-grade education after retirement as a machinist, he attended Odessa College and completed several courses.
Carl and Ada were founding members of the First Church of God in Odessa in 1938. They were both faithful members and missed very few church services.
He served as Sunday school superintendent and taught Sunday school classes. As a lifetime member of the Gideons, he held several state offices and placed Bibles in schools and motels all over the West Texas area. He received a plaque for being the oldest living active member in 1999. He founded two Gideon Camps in Odessa. The first had six members of which five dropped out. Carl continued to meet alone until it was disbanded. He then drove to Big Spring and attended meetings until the second camp was founded in Odessa.
Survivors are daughter, Jarolda Taylor of Odessa; son, Billy C. Eggleston and wife, Carolyn, of Odessa; four grandchildren, Dyann Smith of Fairview, Darla Grant of Victoria, David Eggleston of Lake George, Colo., and Dennis Eggleston of Phillipsburg, N.J.; five great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna Belle Smith of Seminole and Ione Bradford of Lamesa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and three sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, at the First Church of God with Malcolm Tyree, Pastor and Terry Pierce, Pastor of First Church of the Nazarene.
Memorial may be given to the Gideons, 4001 E. 42nd Street. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.