Walter Douglas 'W.D.' 'Dub' Aldridge

(June 16, 1927 ~ December 2, 2018)

Dub, son of Warren Presley Aldridge, Sr. and Mary Beulah Vanderford, married to Ruth Mae Havner and buried in Santa Anna Cemetery, Santa Anna, Coleman County, Texas.

'W. D.' 'Dub' Aldridge, 91, of Santa Anna, Texas passed from this life on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 4:30 am at Holiday Hill Nursing Home in Coleman.

Services will be Wednesday, December 4, 2018 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church with Rev. David McLean officiating. Interment will follow in the Santa Anna Cemetery under the direction of Henderson Funeral Home of Santa Anna.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday from 6:00 will 7:00 pm at Henderson Funeral Home.

He was born the second of four boys, Walter Douglas Aldridge on June 16, 1927 to Warren Presley and Mary Beulah Vanderford Aldridge. Growing up as a country boy in Lawn, he learned the value of hard work. He helped with various farm chores from picking cotton to helping with livestock. Dub attended elementary school in Content, Texas and graduated from Lawn High School in May 1944. He enlisted in the Army in September, 1950 where he served as an engineer. He was stationed in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona In September 1952 he was transferred to the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in September 1956 with the rank of Corporal. According to the family Bible, "on my third furlough I met and planned to marry" the love of his life Ruth Mae Havner. On January 25, 1953 he did just that at First Baptist Church of Coleman, TX. They celebrated 52 years of marriage. He and Ruth made their home in the oilfields and sandhills of Kermit, TX where their children were born.

In October 1967, he moved his family back to the place he loved in Santa Anna. He again enjoyed country life where he worked to pay the bills during the day and farmed and ranched in the evenings and on weekends. In December 1972 he and Ruth bought some property east of Santa Anna and became the first residents of "Aldridge Acres" They lived there the rest of their married lives. After Ruth passed away in 2005 Dub continued to live in the home until September 2017.

Dub loved his Lord, his family and fishing. He also enjoyed working in his shop and tinkering with boat motors.

Survivors are two daughters, Deborah & husband Randy Long of Shields, Texas; Belinda and husband Tim Ince of Roscoe, Texas; son, Duane & wife Kassandra Aldridge of Lake Brownwood, Texas; grandchildren, Charliese Long Castleberry & husband Lee of Fisk, Texas; Jessica Long Seward & husband Shan of Goldthwaite, Texas; Jared Aldridge & Samantha Lew of Austin, Texas; Wesley Aldridge & wife Sarah of Austin, Texas; Heath Ince & wife Jaime of Sweetwater, Texas; Douglas Ince & wife Serena of Runaway Bay, Texas; Jennifer Byars & husband Slade of Bangs, Texas; Melissia Yeats & husband Adam of Brownwood, Texas; Racheal Welker of Brownwood, Texas; 18 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren; sisters in law Sue Aldridge of Grapevine, Texas; Ruby Hosch of Santa Anna, Texas; Nelda Davis of Blanket, Texas; Freda Purcell of Bangs, Texas and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews & friends.

Dub was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Mae Havner Aldridge; son Warren Douglas Aldridge; parents Warren Presley Aldridge, Sr. & Beulah Aldridge; brothers Warren Presley Aldridge, Jr., Winston R. (Jinks) Aldridge, Van Aldridge; Sisters in Law Marion Aldridge and Freddie Aldridge.  Pallbearers will be Grandchildren.

Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas, December 4, 2018.