W.M. "Butch" Herman, 86, died on Thursday, October 25, 2012, at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur. Born in Orange, Texas on July 18, 1926, he was the son of Willie and Nora Alleen Henderson Herman.
He married the former Elberta "Bertie" Updike, daughter of Roland and Sylvia Hinds Updike from Indiana on February 1, 1951 in Orange.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, daughter, Brenda Herman of Bridge City; and son, Brandal Herman of Honolulu, Hawaii. Also surviving are a sister, Pauline Leahy of Nashville, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Marylou Herman of Louisiana; half-brother, Joe DeeDee Herman of Port Arthur; half-sister, Cheryl Felix Ortman of Orange; step-sister, Theresa LaPorte of Oklahoma; and nieces and nephews.
Preceding Butch in death were his parents, step-parents and brothers, Galen and Gus Herman, step-sister, Lorena Hudson, sister-in-law, Mandy Herman Rainwater, brother-in-law, Cyprian LaPorte.
Butch accepted Jesus Christ as his savior as a very young child and has been active in the Cove Baptist Church since being honorably discharged from the military. He served his country during World War II in the Merchant Marines, U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. He retired from Texaco formerly The Texas Company in December 1984.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2012, at Cove Baptist Church with Reverend Jeff Bell officiating. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.