James Santleben

James Oscar Santleben was born July 28,1930 in Sabinal, Texas to Oscar August Santleben and Mattie Gordia (Herring) Santleben and passed from this life on February 15, 2015 in Uvalde Memorial Hospital at the age of 84. He attended elementary schools in Knippa & Trio and graduated from Sabinal High School in 1949. James then attended Kerrville Bible Training School and Schreiner College where he earned an AA degree in Bible and Spanish. He continued his education at Abilene Christian University and received a BS Degree in General Agriculture, Bible and Spanish. While he was attending ACC, he met and ultimately married Alice Nell Spurgin on August 27, 1955. They moved to Knippa, Texas in August of 1958 where they began their teaching careers. During the summer vacations, the couple returned to Abilene where he earned his M Ed. in Administrative Education with a teaching minor in Social Studies from McMurry College in 1962. He went on to Sul Ross University and Our Lady of the Lake University to earn certification in Secondary Spanish, Secondary History, Language and/or Learning Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, Reading Specialist, Educational Diagnostician, Elementary Self-Contained, Secondary Self-Contained, and Counselor. He taught in Knippa, La Pryor, Uvalde and Sabinal High Schools before retiring in 1996 to help his father run the family farm north of Knippa. James was a member of the Texas State Teachers Association, NEA, Texas Farm Bureau, Lions International, and was a member of the Knippa Lions Club, serving as secretary/treasurer for many years. He was a life-long member of the Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 59 ½ years; one son, James Jeffrey Santleben and wife, Mary of Knippa; one daughter, Mitzi Nell Santleben of Knippa; and twelve grandchildren, Moonbeam Rocha and husband, Elias of Knippa; Thorin Coronado and Jina of Bastrop; Texas, Rachel Wright and husband, Chase of San Antonio; Cheyenne Santleben and Mitchell of Folkston, Georgia; Christian Coronado of San Antonio; Jacob Shockley and Krista of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Brandy Santleben of Uvalde; Zackery Shockley of Knippa; Larocha Santleben and Charlie of Dilley; Cody Shockley and Connie of San Antonio; Desirae Coronado and Jermal of Knippa; and Aaron Santleben of Knippa. He is also survived by four great-grand daughters, Zaniah Alice and Evelyn Grace Rocha of Knippa; Alice Luna Coronado of Bastrop; and Rylee Green of Folkston,Georgia; and one great-grandson, Aneko Adam Resendez of Dilley. He is also survived by one brother-in law, Bill Spurgin and wife, Wanda of Abilene Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, and one great-grandson, Zion Ramirez-Rocha. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary with burial following in Sabinal Cemetery. Mr. Ray Melton will officiate. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Andy and Edna Anderson; Joe and Billie Boyd; Bob and Carolyn Reagan; and Pete and Joyce Winn.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
410 W. Cullins
Sabinal, TX  78881
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
1:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
410 W. Cullins
Sabinal, TX  78881
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Sabinal Cemetery
Hwy 90 East
Sabinal, TX  78881