Delmer Edwin Bozeman
Delmer Edwin Bozeman, Sr. passed away at his home on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at age 90.
Bozeman was born November 9, 1931, to William Overton Bozeman and Muzetta Mae (Johnston) Bozeman in Mexia. There were 12 children in the family, spanning 20 years between the oldest and youngest. There were many hours of fun playing Cowboys and Indians.
He grew up in Personville and attended school in Fair Oaks. In 1951, during his senior year, knowing he would soon be drafted, he joined the U. S. Navy and did receive his diploma while in the Navy. He spent three and one-half years aboard ship, with the longest time being at Okinawa, but also in Japan, Vietnam and Korea. He was a machinist mate 2 nd Class when he was honorably discharged in 1955.
After his discharge, he moved to Texas City and was employed with Monsanto as a machinist, where he worked for 35 years.
The interesting story about how he met his wife Jane developed from the Spain family, Keener family and Bozeman family living next to each other in Texas City, where the large families all played together. Jane was shooting marbles in the yard when she first saw Delmer drive up after his discharge from the Navy. Later, when she was 14, he let her drive his car, with a bunch of kids in it who were telling her to “step on it.” She did, and wrecked the car, with only the God Lord keeping them safe from crashing into a nearby telephone pole.
Delmer and Jane were united in marriage on September 16, 1959, when she was 16 and he was 27 and began their happy home and raised their three children in Texas City. He built two of their houses himself, and participated in the third one, with the reasoning that “no one can do it like you can yourself.” In addition to building houses, he built trailers, including goosenecks and a trailer to haul his tractor from Houston to Buffalo.
He was a lifelong Dallas Cowboy fan. Although he enjoyed being outdoors hunting and fishing, or welding or building, he was in front of the TV when it was time for the Cowboys to play. He had watched from their first game in 1960, and remained a loyal fan throughout the years, whether winning or losing. The kids had to go play outdoors when the game was on, so he could watch quietly, only sitting up straighter when he saw a good play.
In 1989 when Bozeman retired, he and Jane moved to Limestone County near Lost Prairie. They had discussed these plans for retirement, and he came up every other weekend to get their house built. When he moved to the country, he owned some cows, but later sold them and leased his land.
Bozeman had many talents, which he passed on to his sons who can also “do it themselves.” He enjoyed woodworking and building things with his grandchildren. When he held each of the grand babies in his lap, he would hand them a pencil and tablet from his pocket and encourage them to draw.
Bozeman was very faithful to God. He and his family worshiped at Missionary Baptist Church in Texas City and then at Northside Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Deacon. He served in five more churches as Deacon, after moving to Limestone County: Prairie Grove, Lost Prairie, Lake Limestone and currently at Freestone Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Quinton Bozeman, and eight siblings: Charlie Beatrice Bozeman, Normie Dean Bozeman, Larston Dewaynie Bozeman, Windola Lanell Russell, Faye Lanette Dockery, “Billie” Quinn Bozeman, Benjamin Lester Bozeman and Terry Alford Bozeman.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane Bozeman; daughter, Thalia Dianne Woitena of Texas City; Delmer Edwin Bozeman, Jr. of Santa Fe; and Samuel Jay “Sammy” Bozeman of Groesbeck. There are seven grandchildren and their spouses: Wesley Woitena and Nina Benavides, Joshua and Cathie Woitena, Kevin and Allison Woitena, Seth Bozeman and Cheyenne Rosser-Moore, Darci and Sam Bowler, Sarah Bunn and fiancé Joshua Baker, and Dustin Bozeman. The six great grandchildren are: Jessica Woitena, Katniss Woitena, Makenzie Woitena, Gandon Bunn, Cohen Jones, and Sam Bowler. He is also survived by three brothers, Dale Lloyd Bozeman, Troy Elvin Bozeman, and George Jackson
Bozeman and their families. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Alamo Hospice of Waco, and to Terri, Hope and Sharah.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 11, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Officiants were Pastor Stephen Davenport of the Freestone Baptist Church and Brother Paul Heuermann of the New Bethlehem Baptist Church of Cut-n-Shoot. Burial, with military honors, followed in Lost Prairie Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Wesley Woitena, Joshua Woitena, Kevin Woitena, Seth Bozeman, Dustin Bozeman and Samuel Bowler. Honorary pallbearers were Joshua Baker, Darci Bowler, Sarah Bunn and Quinton Bozeman.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Delmer may be made to Alamo Hospice.
Visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com to leave messages of condolence on the guestbook.