Herman Wortham

Herman Wortham, 89, of Midland, passed away April 26, 2015. The family will receive guests from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Friday, May 1, 2015 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Faith Temple Church of God In Christ. Interment will follow at Serenity Memorial Gardens.Herman Wortham is the son of Gus and Addie Rolison-Wortham. He had eleven siblings, five boys and six girls; I.T, Alford, Margaret, Jeraldine, Eleanor, Ora Mae, Erma Jean, Burnett, Ernest, James and Theodore. Herman was the seventh child and was born on March 3, 1926.He loved to work outside and he learned a lot from a family friend, who took him under his wing, and taught him how to farm and take care of the animals. Herman got his love of animals from his grandfather, Doc. Wortham, who was a horse doctor and people from all over the county would bring their sick animals to him.Herman decided that he wanted to travel and at the tender age of thirteen, went to Oregon and worked there for a while. In 1945, he left Oregon and came to Midland to visit some of his siblings. On his way back to Oregon, he realized that he did not have enough money to get back, so he decided to stay in Midland until he could earn enough money to return to Oregon. As time went on he settled in Midland and found a job at a filling station pumping gas and washing cars. It was here in Midland, Texas that he met Mary Louise Russell. They met in 1948 and married the same year on June 10th. To this union, Herman and Mary Wortham had eight children.Herman raised his children with a strong hand. He was the force in the neighborhood and all of the neighborhood kids respected “Mr. Herman” and he was fondly know by them as The Man. He was a man of principle.Herman was a hard worker and worked for Midland Paint and Body Shop painting cars; Drilco Oil Company in the machine shop and Midland Independent School District until he retired.He performed double duty cultivating the land that he bought in the country while still employed. He never lost his love for the land and enjoyed seeing the fertile ground turn over. He found joy working in his garden and the fruits of his labor were cantaloupes watermelons, honey dew melons, cabbage, peas, greens, and okra. He shared his garden vegetables with family and friends for years. He had been known to take a “mess of greens” to his sister and just leave them on the porch. One of Herman’s favorite pastime was fishing.Herman is preceded in death by his wife Mary L. Wortham; sons, Herman Wortham, Jr, James E. Wortham (Pee Wee) and Rodney D. Wortham.He is survived by his sons, Russell Wortham, Sr. of Midland, Gary Wortham (Erma) of Houston, Bradley Wortham of Midland; daughters, Regina Wortham of Dallas and Mary Wortham-Howell (Wallace) of Midland, Elizabeth Moore (Early) of Midland, Margaret Tatum and Debra Walker of Dallas. He is also survived by sisters, Ora Mae Wallace of Midland, Erma Jean Henderson of Ft. Worth, and Eleanor Harrington of Chicago.The family would like to thank his faithful caregiver, Liz Millan for her love and devotion to our father and Herman leaves behind many wonderful friends, relatives and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will deeply miss him.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,