Howard Bryan Allen, 81, of New Braunfels, died March 29. He was born June 11,1935, in Waurika, Okla. He attended Oklahoma Baptist University and was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked many years as an accountant for the State of Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Patricia; their infant son, Emmett Miles; and his sister, Martha Faye Hoover. He is survived by sons, Ross Douglas Allen of Fischer and Bryan Preston Allen and wife, Carla, of Austin; daughter Amy Diane Cottrell and husband, Matthew, of New Braunfels; two granddaughters and one grandson; brother Louie R, Allen and wife, Suellen, of Bethany, Okla.; and brother, Isaac K. Allen and his wife, Delores, of Norman, Okla.
Harold Boyd Barber, 87, and Margaret Jo Robinson Barber, 82, lived together, served God together and died together March 29. The Barbers were members of First Baptist Church in New Braunfels. Their service included building mission churches, hosting a weekly Bible study in their home, working in the church kitchen, volunteering at the local food bank, visiting residents in nursing homes and distributing Bibles with The Gideons International. They were preceded in death by his sister, Evelena Barber, and her sister, Joyce Samples. They are survived by her siblings and their spouses, Nola and Andy Morrison, and Greg and Janis Robinson; daughters and their spouses, Charlotte Diane Barber and Archie Sheppard, and Elizabeth and Gib Watt; five grandchildren and their spouses.
Murray William Barrett, 66, of New Braunfels died March 29 when an oncoming truck collided with the van he was driving from a senior adult retreat. He was born Feb. 15, 1951, in Dallas. After graduating from Southwest Texas State University, he served in the United States Marine Corps. For many years, he taught middle school math. He taught fifth and sixth grade Sunday school at First Baptist Church in New Braunfels and worked with the AWANA program. He was involved in the senior adult choir and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is survived by his wife, Dianne, and their four children, Matthew, Jenn, Russell and Cassie.
Addie Maurine Schmeltekopf, 84, of New Braunfels died March 29. She was born Nov. 15, 1932 in Hamilton. She and James Schmeltekopf Sr. married in 1960 and moved to New Braunfels in 1966. She studied bookkeeping and accounting at Nixon Business College in Austin. After a few bookkeeping jobs around the San Antonio area, she joined Ditch Witch of Central Texas in 1975 and worked there more than 25 years. She served God throughout her life by teaching Bible study classes and singing in the choir. She was an accomplished cook, baker and seamstress who ministered to younger women through her church-based quilting club. She was preceded in death by husband, James Sr.; a brother, Bruce Kelly and wife Margie; a sister, Mary Lois Nickell; brothers-in-law, Jesse Harden and Jack Turner; and sister-in-law, Gayle Kelly. She is survived by her five children: Peggy Grantham and husband, John, of Tallahassee, Fla.; Martha Jennings and husband, Billy, of Newark; Weldon Wright and wife, Billie, of Snyder; James Jr. and wife, Nadine, of New Braunfels; Donna Clark and husband, Gary, of Dripping Springs; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; sisters Nena Harden, Myrtle Turner, Carrol Kelly; and brothers Cecil Kelly and wife Ruth, R.B. Kelly, and Harrol Kelly and wife Ann; and brother-in-law, Wayne Nickell.
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