E-SYSTEMS/RAYTHEON RETIREES LUNCH GROUP
By Eileen Wahlstrom
June 24, 2020
Remember
Stay home, if you must go out please continue to practice social distancing of six feet and personal hygiene measures. Check in on your family, friends and neighbors, especially those who are elderly. Support local restaurants and food establishments by ordering delivery or curbside service. Follow the Library and Parks and Rec Facebook pages for fun stuff to do virtually.
Stay away from the virus of 2020
Present: 0
First Time: 0
Long Time: 0
Guest: 0
SICKNESS:
I am so relieved to say we have no reported virus cases in our group. Let’s keep it that way and take this seriously! If you feel sick, please isolate until you know what’s wrong. If you need anything, and that goes for everyone, reach out through email, Facebook, phone. We are in this together.
Chris Reynolds: Had her hip replacement surgery March 16th. Here is her latest update from Facebook dated June 4th.
“Was released from PT today since Cory (great and fun therapist at Baylor Scott and White Rehab in Rowlett) and I agreed there will be no further improvement until my knee replacements. Hip is great and I will get probably my left knee done first as soon as I can schedule it after seeing Dr. Lancaster on June 18. 2020 - a year that will live in infamy!"
George Carlsness: Update on George from Joanne’s Facebook post:
George is up and about and tending to his prayer garden.
7/14/20
Update from George’s surgical oncologist:
"At 3 months past his surgery, George’s CT scan results were good, no sign of tumors. Everything looked good with his digestive system from the surgery. We thank God for this progress and good report. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and support for the past 3 months. Please continue to pray for him as he continues the remainder of his chemotherapy. He has completed three treatments and has nine treatments to go, ending sometime near Thanksgiving"
Bobby Gambrell: His wife Carolyn is progressing, two heart pacemaker surgeries.
Pat Bryner: Stroke March 12th. Is rehabbing with her daughters up north. You can send Pat a card at this address: 10845 Kingston Ave., Huntington Woods, MI 48070
Deaths
Curtis Cokes
June 15, 1937 - May 29, 2020
Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
Curtis (Bevo) Cokes died May 29, 2020, at the age of 82, in Dallas, TX. Curtis was born on June 15, 1937, in Corsicana, TX, to Nathaniel Cokes, Sr., and Emma Cokes. Curtis had various careers in life, but his most fulfilling one was realized on November 28, 1966, when he won the WBA/WBC World Welterweight Title. Curtis was famous for his training regime, which he instilled in the boxers he trained at his gym “The Home of Champions.” Curtis was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame 2001, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. Curtis also made one film appearance in 1972, in the John Huston film, Fat City, alongside future Academy Award winner, Jeff Bridges, and Stacy Keach. Curtis is survived by: his two sons, Curtis Cokes, Jr., and Vincent H. Cokes; his four daughters: Sharla (Cokes) Emerson, Vashiti Cokes, Tammi (Cokes) Anderson, and Stephanie (Cokes) Jackson; sister, Mary Helen (Cokes) Thomas; brothers, Joe Cokes and Robert Cokes; along with a host of great-great-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends and associates. Curtis was genuinely loved by all. He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Nathaniel Cokes, Jr., Charles Edward Cokes, Jake Donald Cokes, and Earnest M. Cokes.
Curtis worked in the PC Lab in the 1960s.
Obituary: Click here
From Bobby Gambrell:
There was a group of folks that ushered Curtis fights from LTV or TEMCO best I can remember. We got in free so it was great way for us to view live fights.
Ushers:
- Bobby Gambrell
- Ron Williams
- Ron Dillon
- Vic Vetrano
- Tom White
There were others but my 82 year old brain can't recall them. Jim Banks worked in the PC lab but cooked for Tacke and group at the Deer camp, not a fighter. Bobby G
Dr. Phil Rogers
April 1925 - August 2014
Rogers, Phil H. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, was born April 13, 1924 in McKinney, Texas and passed away August 29, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Phil H. Rogers Jr. He is survived by Josephine Rogers, his wife of 68 years; children, Rhea and husband, Dave, Hugh and wife, Joyce, JoAnn and husband, Lowell and daughter in-law Judy. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A talented and creative engineer, Phil graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas, where he served as president of the Longhorn band 1943 to 1944. After serving in the Navy, where he met his future bride and love of his life, he earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. He taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona before entering industry. His career included work at Collins Radio Co. and E-Systems where he retired as a Vice President. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Restland Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 12:30 PM on Thursday, September 4, 2014 in Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX, 75243 with graveside services in Restland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Cornerstone Christian Church, 2700 Christian Parkway, Dallas, TX 75234.
Shirley L. Godwin
December 1940 – July 2020
Shirley Lynn Godwin, 79, passed away on July 10, 2020. She was born on December 31, 1940, in Dallas, Texas, to the home of Glenn W. and Geraldine Harper Hamontree.
Shirley worked as a secretary in her career years. Early on, she worked for two Senators and traveled to Washington on occasion, but the longest tenure of fifteen years was spent working for E-Systems. Shirley and Charles loved going to auctions and had a shop in a flea market where she sold pianos and Elvis memorabilia. She held many garage sales and sold Christmas yard art Charles made for her. One weekend from Thursday thru mid-Saturday she made almost $4,000. She decided she wanted to be a nail tech and wanted to get some customers, so Charles built her a nail station, and she began working out of their home. Needless to say, her nails were always manicured, as were Charles. Shirley loved her church family; she and Charles were members of Christian Life Center in Gun Barrel City, Texas, for the past ten years. Shirley will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 39 years Charles; daughters Jeanene Statas and husband Lloyd and Janna Lewis and husband Brandon; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her beloved dog “Panda.”
She is preceded in death by her parents; and son Joe Charles Godwin
Obituary: Click here
Carlene Elizabeth Economy
February 1938-June 2020
Carlene Economy, reported for duty at Heaven's bluegrass band, on June 10, 2020. Born February 11, 1938 in San Antonio, she was a Texas girl to the core. She graduated from Incarnate Word High School in San Antonio, and earned her Certificate of Employee Benefits Specialists certification from Wharton School of Business.
Funeral Service: Sunday, June 14th at 2:00 PM at Rhoton Funeral Home, 1511 South I-35E, Carrollton, TX, with visitation, music and
fellowship to follow. She will be laid to rest at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in a private ceremony.
She married Tom Economy and his military service took them to Corpus Christi and Austin, before settling in Dallas in 1962. After raising her children, Carlene went to work at SMU as a research administrator. In 1980 she had the opportunity to start a new career at E-Systems (At Corporate Headquarters), which later became Raytheon. She retired from them in 2000 and was the first female Director in the history of the Company.
After she retired, she helped her husband, Tom, with his accounting business, until they retired in 2009. In 2001, Carlene first heard an autoharp. Having played piano since she was a child, she was immediately intrigued, and found Cecil White, to give her lessons. From that first lesson, many, many friendships were born that lasted her lifetime. Tom and Carlene traveled and played music with Jeff and Ann for a year, and rarely was there a music, bluegrass or old-time festival where Carlene could not be found. Whether playing autoharp, or dobro, or clogging to others music, Carlene’s vivacious and gregarious personality, made you an instant friend!! For almost 20 years, every January found Carlene at Harps, Hammers and Friends, a group of friends that gathered yearly to play music, enjoy friendships and just be together. Mother’s Day weekends were spent in Glen Rose at the annual Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival, and Thursday nights were “jam night” for a group of special friends.
She leaves behind her husband of 65 years: Tom Economy, daughter: Gwen Mansfield and husband, Eddie; son: COL Tom Economy, US Army, Retired, and wife Pandora; Grandchildren: Chad Mansfield, Scott Mansfield and wife Megan, J.B. Economy and wife Carli, Carson Economy, Martina Kaiwi and husband Chris McDowell, Sisters-in-Law: Tenya Fitz and husband Eddie; Constantina Economou and husband Josh Bacon; Brother-in-Law: Richard Economy, extended family, and music friends and families too numerous to mention.
Obituary: Click here
Joe Mac Ivy
May 1950-June 2020
Joe worked in the ME area of Development at the Greenville location. He lost his battle to cancer yesterday, May 19th. Joe Mac Ivy, 70, of Point, Texas, passed away at his residence surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at First Baptist Church Point at 11:00 a.m. with Mr. Kris Ivy, Mr. Jay Sikes and Mr. Richard Kellam officiating. Burial will follow at Lone Star Cemetery in Point. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Point. Services are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Joe was born in Greenville, Texas on May 11, 1950 to Arthur and Inez Rusk Ivy. He married Debbie Harris on May 23, 1980 in Point, Texas. He retired from Design Engineering where he worked at Raytheon and Texas Instruments. He was a member of First Baptist Church Point and also a member of The Stone Groove Band.
Joe is survived by his wife, Debbie Ann Ivy; sons, Matt Ivy and wife, Mary Ann, Kris Ivy & wife, Shea; daughters, Ashlie Stephan and husband, Nick, Michelle Willis and husband, Ronnie; brother, James Ray Ivy and wife, Mary Ann; sister, Marcoleta Stephens; grandchildren, Justin Redmon and wife, Lyndsey, Dalton Redmon, Cameron Redmon, Dana Willis, Chloe Ivy, Cadlyn Ivy, Austin Ivy and soon to be Madelyn & Easton Stephan.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Obituary: Click here
Announcements
Darrell Lancaster proposed an idea to create a repository for retirees’ experiences and funny/interesting stories that later can be compiled into a collection and available for all to enjoy. We don’t want to lose these memories. Be looking for a place to submit your own stories soon.
Historical Marker Update:
Jim Gray told me he has made a connection, Mitch Bates – Asst. City Manager, that could open doors for our marker. Stay tuned for more info!
I have name tags for the following people. One line tags are $4.00 and two line tags are $5.00. If anyone needs a name tag, please send your name (as you would like it on the name tag) to me,
emmawahlstrom@aol.com or text it to me at 469-475-4884. A second line is optional if you want to include your service dates.
- Gene Carlton
- Sam Wilson
- Chris Berry
- Rick Lowe
- Rich Marks
We are not sure when we will be able to meet again. We will notify you when we are able to schedule a meeting. Furr's cafeteria is open acccording to their website but, you are served at your table. Maybe we can wait and see how this works out.
I will resume collecting eye glasses for donation to the Lion’s Club once we can safely get together.
Thank you all who have donated
Eileen Wahlstrom
Submit your Garland ESY/Raytheon stories now!! 
ESY Ray