Delmer Bozeman

Delmer Edwin Bozeman Sr. passed away at his home on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at age 90.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Stephen Davenport of the Freestone Baptist Church and Paul Heverman officiating. Burial, with military honors, followed at Lost Prairie Cemetery.

The pallbearers were Wesley Woitena, Joshua Woitena, Kevin Woitena, Seth Bozeman, Dustin Bozeman and Samuel Bowler. Honorary pallbearers were Joshua Baker, Darci Bowler, Sarah Bunn and Quinton Bozeman.

Delmer was born Nov. 9, 1931, to William Overton Bozeman and Muzetta Mae (Johnston) Bozeman in Mexia. There were 12 children in the family, spanning 20 years between the oldest and youngest. There were many hours of fun playing Cowboys and Indians. Delmer grew up in Personville and attended school in Fair Oaks. In 1951, during his senior year, knowing he would soon be drafted, Delmer joined the U.S. Navy and received his diploma while in the Navy. He spent three and one-half years aboard ship with the longest time being at Okinawa, but also in Japan, Vietnam and Korea. He was a machinist mate second Class when he was honorably discharged in 1955.

After his discharge, he moved to Texas City and was employed with Monsanto, as a machinist, where he worked for 35 years.

The interesting story about how he met his wife, Jane, developed from the Spain family, Keener family and Bozeman family living next to each other in Texas City, where the large families all played together. Jane was shooting marbles in the yard when she first saw Delmer drive up after his discharge from the Navy. Later, when she was 14, he let her drive his car with a bunch of kids who were telling her to “step on it.” She did and wrecked the car with only the Lord God keeping them safe from crashing into a nearby telephone pole.

Delmer and Jane were united in marriage on Sept. 16, 1959, when she was 16 and he was 27 and began their happy home and raised their three children in Texas City. He built two of their houses, himself, and participated in the third one, with the reasoning that “no one can do it like you can yourself.” In addition to building houses, he built trailers for himself, including goosenecks and a trailer to haul his tractor from Houston to Buffalo.

Delmer was a lifelong Dallas Cowboy fan. Although he enjoyed being outdoors hunting and fishing, or welding or building, he was in front of the TV when it was time for the Cowboys to play. He had watched from their first game in 1960, and remained a loyal fan throughout the years, whether winning or losing. The kids had to go play outdoors when the game was in play, so he could watch quietly, only sitting up straighter when he saw a good play.

In 1989 when Delmer retired, he and Jane moved to Limestone County near Lost Prairie. They had discussed these plans for retirement, and he came up every other weekend to get their house built. When he moved to the country, he owned some cows, but later sold them and leased his land.

Delmer had many talents, which he passed on to his sons who can also “do it themselves.” He enjoyed woodworking and building things with his grand children. When he held each of the grandbabies in his lap, he would hand them a pencil and tablet from his pocket and encourage them to draw.

Delmer was very faithful to God. He and his family worshipped at Missionary Baptist Church in Texas City and then at Northside Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a deacon. He served in five more churches as deacon, after moving to Limestone County: Prairie Grove, Lost Prairie, Lake Limestone, and currently at Freestone Baptist Church.

Delmer was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Quinton Bozeman; and eight siblings: Charlie Beatrice Bozeman (the first child at age 4), Normie Dean Bozeman (at age 2), Larston Dewaynie Bozeman, Windola Lanell Russell, Faye Lanette Dockery, “Billie” Quinn Bozeman, Benjamin Lester Bozeman and Terry Alford Bozeman.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane Bozeman; daughter, Thalia Dianne Woitena of Texas City; Delmer Edwin Bozeman Jr. of Santa Fe; and Samuel Jay “Sammy” Bozeman of Groesbeck. There are seven grandchildren and their spouses: Wesley Woitena and Nina Benavides, Joshua and Cathie Woitena, Kevin and Allison Woitena, Seth Bozeman and Cheyenne Rosser-Moore, Darci and Sam Bowler, Sarah Bunn and fiancé Joshua Baker and Dustin Bozeman. The six great-grandchildren are: Jessica Woitena, Katniss Woitena, Makenzie Woitena, Gandon Bunn, Cohen Jones and Sam Bowler. He is also survived by three brothers, Dale Lloyd Bozeman, Troy Elvin Bozeman and George Jackson Bozeman and their families.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Alamo Hospice of Waco and to Terri, Hope and Sharah.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Delmer may be made to Alamo Hospice.

Visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com to leave messages of condolence on the guestbook.