Eugene George Bartus

Eugene George Bartus passed away on Satuday, August 23, 2014. A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 27, 2014 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 10:00am at the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church located on Presbyterian Road in Albany, Louisiana. Burial of the ashes will follow the service at the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church Cemetery.Gene was born on August 17, 1929, to the Reverend Alexander and Aranka Szekely Bartus in the Hungarian community located in Albany, Louisiana. He attended the lower grades in Albany, but completed his high school education in Hammond, Louisiana where he participated in sports with his main focus on basketball. Gene continued his education at Southeastern Louisiana University where he continued playing basketball, graduating in 1949. During his college years he began working part-time for the JC Penney Company, a career that would last 31 years. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and after service was completed, he returned to work for JC Penney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The career with Penney’s took the family to Atlanta, Georgia, Memphis, Tennessee, Searcy, Arkansas, Waco, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Midland, Texas. After his retirement from Penney’s, he opened and operated Gene Bartus Fine Menswear and Tuxedo Rental for 12 years. His third career was perhaps his most fulfilling career. He became Special Education Teacher’s Assistant for the Midland Independent School District.As a member of the community, Gene was an active member of First Presbyterian Church serving as a Deacon, Elder, Trustee, and choir member. Other activities included the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, and the American Heart Association.Members of his family preceding him in death were his parents Alexander and Aranka Bartus, his brothers, Joseph Bartus and Alex Bartus, and sister, Margaret Bartus.He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Anne Dozier Bartus, daughter, Jenny Anne Bridgeforth and husband, Stephen of Lovington, New Mexico, son David Eugene Bartus of Indianapolis, Indiana, son, Stephen Gregg Bartus of Dallas, Texas. Grandchildren include Dean Forest and wife, Dawn of Fredricksberg, Virginia, Melissa Forest of Hobbs, New Mexico, Jenna Lujan and husband, Joe of Hobbs, New Mexico, Hollie Killebrew and husband, James of Enterprise, Alabama, Alaina Bartus of Indianapolis, Indiana. Great grandchildren include Olivia Lujan and Sydney Forest. He is also survived his brother, Louis Bartus and wife, Pauline of Albany, Louisiana, sister, Goldie Hudson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and numerous nieces and nephews. Our family has been blessed with the beautiful and devoted friendship of Drew, Glenda and Olivia Peters whom we consider as family members.He believed that the most important thing in one’s life was one’s own personal relationship with God. His favorite scriptures were Romans 8:28 and 8:31. 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 8:31 “What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED!In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bartus Family Scholarship , Southeastern Louisiana University Development Foundation, SLU 10450, Hammond, LA 70402, Attention Wendy Lauderdale, or the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 119 Albany, LA 70711, or the First Presbyterian Church Deacon’s Fund, 800 W. Texas Ave, Midland, TX 79701.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can made to www.npwelch.com ,