Eldon Kiblinger

Eldon Roy Kiblinger, 79, of Covington left this earth Saturday, January 14, 2017, and it is now the Lord’s time to be entertained. As anyone who has spent any time around Eldon can tell you, He will be very entertained. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2017, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Dr. Eric Black of First Baptist Church of Covington and Rev. Ryan Kiblinger of Chicago, IL officiating. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 19, at the funeral home.

Eldon was known by many names: Eldon, Eldon Roy, Roy, Kib, Daddy, Pappy, Trooper, Super Trooper and a few names we cannot speak, given to him by the many truckers that he stopped over the years as a License and Weight trooper.

This is the story of Eldon Roy Kiblinger. Eldon was a wonderful man that was loved and respected by many. He was known for his wit and humorous stories. You never knew what he was going to say, but you could count on it being funny. He never met a stranger, whether it was in the line at the grocery store, a crowded elevator, or Wal Mart.

His story begins in Abbott, TX on March 13, 1937, the second child of Doke and Zula Kiblinger. They moved to Covington in 1940 to open Kiblinger General Merchandise and he became a Covington Owl. He graduated from CHS in 1955 and after a few years of living around the state because of his job as a state trooper, he moved back to Covington as quickly as he could. He was proud to be an Owl and a proud supporter of his school. He served on the school board for 45 years and at the regular scheduled November 14, 2016 school board meeting, CISD’s School Board passed a motion to name the newly renovated Jr. High Gym and Fine Arts building the Eldon Roy Kiblinger Building, in recognition of a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the education of the children of Covington Independent School District.

While attending CHS, he met the love of his life, Nancy Siratt. They were married March 7, 1958 and soon started their family, first with their son, Charles, and then daughter, Sonya. Eventually son-in-law, Michael, and grandsons, Bryce and Royce, were added to the family.

Beginning in 1958 and retiring in 1993, he served the State of Texas for 35 years as a state trooper. Since his retirement from Texas Department of Public Safety until his death, he held the honorary commission of Special Texas Ranger. Almost 30 of these years were served in Johnson and Hill Counties. Not content in his retirement, because he missed working with the public, he went back to work as a Special U.S. Deputy Marshal for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in 1999. He retired from there in 2012. Eldon Roy loved his jobs and always said he never watched a clock while working.

When he wasn’t working, he loved spending time at “the farm” with his son, Charles, and his “farm boy” Royce or helping Bryce build a better “mouse trap.” He was Sonya’s biggest fan and was forever showing off one of her quilts.

Faith was an integral part of Eldon and he served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Covington and a member of New Hope Masonic Lodge #652 of Covington.

Waiting in heaven on him are his parents, Doke and Zula Kiblinger and brother, Edgar.

He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Nancy; children, Charles Kiblinger of Covington and Sonya Lanham, and husband, Michael, of Cleburne; two grandsons, Bryce Lanham and fiancé, Ashley Sample, of Chicago, IL and Royce Lanham of Cleburne; brother, Doke Kiblinger, Jr. and wife, Cindy, of Arlington; sister, Sue Boyd and husband, Sam, of Cleburne; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Kiblinger Family Scholarship Fund, Covington ISD, 501 N. Main St., Covington, TX 76636. Eldon’s belief was high school should not be a conclusion but part of a journey in academic accomplishments.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Thursday, January 19, 2017
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Funeral Service

2:00 PM ,Friday, January 20, 2017
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Burial

Friday, January 20, 2017
Ridge Park Cemetery
Julatka Street Hillsboro, TX 76645