Heaven welcomed a new member of the greatest generation on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, when Herb Self went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 24, 2010 at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend David Turner of Little Cypress Baptist Church and Reverend Douglas Caldwell of First United Methodist Church in Mauriceville.
Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.
Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.
Born in Neame, Louisiana on May 26, 1920, Mr. Self was the son of Jessie Albert Self and Pearl Whitman Self.
He was a member of Little Cypress Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and served on several committees of the church.
Mr. Self retired after 35 years of service from the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel, where he was an accounting clerk.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran having served in the Panama Canal Zone from 1941 until 1945.
A man of great integrity, Mr. Self was a loving and respected person to both family and friends and was the greatest Paw-Paw any grandchild could have.
An avid sports fan, he had coached his son's and grandson's baseball teams.
He loved to garden and was known for peddling his sweet potatoes and pecans on the side of the road.
Mr. Self was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Louise Self; an infant daughter; and six brothers, Buster, Johnny, J.A., George, Huey and Robert.
Mr. Self is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Carey Mitchell of Orange; and son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Cathey Self of Orange.
He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Jonathan Self, Emily Bradley and her husband, Aaron, Christina Judice and Erika Mitchell; two great-grandchildren, Pamela Harrell and Kendall Judice; and brother, Vernon Self of Jonesboro, Louisiana.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Randy Carruthers, Joe Hudson, Roy Bodenhamer, Thurl Minchew, Bill Young and Marvin Potter. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jonathan Self, Aaron Bradley, Carey Mitchell and the members of Mr. Self's Sunday School Class at Little Cypress Baptist Church.
Although he will be greatly missed, we look forward to the day when we are reunited with Daddy and Mama in our eternal home.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Syed Anwar, Dr. Gwen Lavalais and the staff of Harbor Hospice in Beaumont for their compassionate and loving care during Mr. Self's illness.
For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the building fund at Little Cypress Baptist Church, 3274 Little Cypress Drive, Orange, Texas 77632.