James H. Priddy
James Henry Priddy, 86, went to be with the Lord and join the love of his life, Lova on Tuesday, Jan. 3,2012. He was born on June 28, 1925, to Clofus Bryant and Annie Laura Priddy in Groesbeck, Texas. He attended Tarleton State University, before being drafted into the US Army in 1943.
After fighting in combat in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge and receiving a Purple Heart f
or injuries he received in January 1945, he returned to Tarleton and then transferred and later graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education in January 1948.
Jim taught Vocational Agricultural Education in Latexo, Texas, before marrying Lova Dickey in November 1949.
They moved to west Texas where he worked for USDA for several years in Wellington, Matador and Silverton. In 1958, they moved to Hereford to begin a new career in the seed business with George Warner Seed Co.
In 1979, they moved to Lockhart to work with W.H. “Tony” Anton and later purchase W.H. Anton Seed Company, before retiring in 2002.
Jim was an active member of the American Legion Post 41, Lockhart Masonic Lodge No. 690, Breakfast Lions Club, Caldwell County Farm Bureau, and Aggie Club. He was also member of Ben Hur Shrine and Scottish Rite in Austin. He was a very loyal member of the First United Methodist Church.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Ann and husband, Allen Vargas, of Austin; son, Joe and wife, Linda Priddy, of Santa Maria, Calif; four grandchildren: Adam, Jared, Caleb and Sarah, and husband, Tyler Sanders; sister-in-law, Hila Sue and husband, Wyman Wilkerson, of Lumberton, N.C.; and also a very special caregiver, Johnny Zuniga.
Jim never met a stranger. He loved people and hard work.
A visitation from 5-6 p.m. and a Masonic Memorial Service at 6 p.m. (open to the public) was scheduled at the Masonic Lodge, 602 S. Main, in Lockhart, on Wednesday, Jan. 11. A memorial service was planned at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. Graveside services will be held on Friday, Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ft. Parker Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas, for both Jim and Lova.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 41, Scottish Rite Learning Center in Austin, Texas, or the organization of your choice.
All arrangements with Eeds Funeral Home, 408 S. Main St., Lockhart, Texas 78644. (512) 398-2343.
I just looked at the obituary for Mr. Priddy. Not sure if this messsage will reach the family, but it was Mr. Priddy who was with my Uncle (Joe Mann) when he was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. We still have the letters that Mr. Priddy wrote to my grandmother offering condolences regarding the death of her son. He was a very kind man to reach out to my family the way he did.