Obituary

Witten, Clyde, Mrs. (Rena Finney)

Edmonson-- Funeral services for Rena Witten, 91, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Neff, pastor, and Dr. Travis Hart, pastor of First Baptist Church in Plainview, officiating.

Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home.

Mrs. Witten died at 10:45 a.m. Thursday in Runningwater Draw Care Center in Olton.

She was born Dec. 8, 1912, the daughter of J.A. and Eppie Finney in Plainview. She grew up in the Olton community and graduated as valedictorian from Olton High School in 1930.

After receiving a teaching degree from West Texas State Teacher's College in 1932, she taught at Stansell for two years.

On Sept. 28, 1935, she married Clye Witten in Plainview and they farmed in the Edmonson community for 69 years. He died Jan. 6, 1982.

She was active in the Valley View Baptist Church until it closed in the early 1970s and became a member of First Baptist Church, serving as church pianist. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years in both churches.

She was a member of Northwest Extension Club for over 50 years, a leader in the Edmonson community and was chosen Hale County Pioneer Woman of the Year in 1993.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Kelly Sue Witten of Edmonson; a daughter-in-law, Doris Witten of Olton; five grandchildren and their spouses. David and Melanie Ridley of Olton, Rex and Deborah Witten of Hale Center, Bryan and Holly Bishop of Plainview, Ty and Tiffani Witten of St. Louis, Mo., and Joy Witten of Olton; and six great-grandchildren.

Two sons are deceased, Larry Witten died June 19, 1987, and Billy Witten died in 2001. Two brothers, Ray Finney and Galen "Jerk" Finney, also are deceased.

The family suggests memorials to Bill Witten Scholarship Fund at Wayland University or to a favorite charity.

Plainview Daily Herald-- Jan. 23, 2004