Herman L. Stokes, Jr.

Herman Lawson Stokes, Jr., 78, of Abilene passed away Monday, April 13, 2009 at his residence.

He was born July 15, 1930 in Runnels County to Herman Lawson Stokes, Sr. and Dora Lange Stokes. He went to school at Blanton and graduated in 1948 from Ballinger High School. He was awarded the degree of American Farmer in October 1951. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and served four years as a member of the Military Police. On July 3, 1953 he and Wanda Zuehlke were married in Ballinger. He joined the Abilene Police Department in 1956 and became the first dog handler in 1961. In 1967 he joined the Texas Liquor Control Board and retired from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in 1987. After retirement he formed his own company, teaching seller/server laws of the State of Texas until 2001 when he became ill and was no longer able to teach. He was a Baptist.

Herman was preceded in death by his parents, his sons, Alan and Gary Stokes, and his fishing buddy, Lewis Zuehlke.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Wanda Zuehlke Stokes of Abilene; daughter, Pam Smith and husband, Randy, of Brownwood; a brother, Buddy Stokes and wife, Darlene, and a sister, Doris White and husband, Don, all of Ballinger. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Hubble Smith and wife, Amy, Tamra Smith and her finance, Gabriel, Scotty Smith, and Kristen Stokes; four great-grandchildren, Justin and Hunter Smith of Abilene, Colton and Sharla Ray Curtis of Throckmorton.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Funeral services will be Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow at Old Runnels Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Hubble Smith, Scotty Smith, Randy Motz, Larry Howard, Dwayne White, and Tom Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be Texas Alcoholic Beverage Officers and Alcohol Beverage Certification Instructors.

The family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of the Big Country at 4601 Hartford, Abilene, Texas 79605.