Mr. Bartles was born in Tecumseh, Neb., and had lived in Amarillo for 10 years. After a career in the Air Force where he attained the rank of master sergeant, he worked as a mechanic for Montford Beef Packing Plant. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He married Linda Bartels in 1960.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1986; and a brother Earl Bartels.

Survivors include a daughter, Chery Webster of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Nita Kennedy of Amarillo; a stepson, Richard Hutson of Dumas; four brothers, Arnold Bartels of Tecumseh, Edsel Bartels of Lincoln, Neb., and Raymond Bartels and Robert Bartels, both of Elm Creek, Neb.; two sisters, Berniece Geisler of Lincoln and Oleta Popp of Denver; three grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and eight step great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Cattau, pastor, and the Rev. Brian Hesse, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery at Dumas by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2820 Virginia Circle.

The family suggests memorials be to Trinity Lutheran Church, 5005 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106; or Multiple Sclerosis Society Panhandle Chapter, 6222 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, TX 79109.

MILITARY MARKER:
BARTELS, Vernon Dale; April 23, 1931 - Jan 21, 2002; M/Sgt, US Air Force, Korea, Vietnam
Dumas Cem., Dumas, TX.

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