Horace LaRue Atnipp (“H.L.”) Atnipp died at his home in Midland, Texas on January 26, 2015. H.L. was 84 years old. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Friday January 30, 2015, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. A graveside service and interment will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Resthaven Memorial Park.H.L. was the only child of Horace and Bernice McMillan Atnipp and was born in Ballinger, Texas on December 29, 1930. H.L. graduated from Ballinger High School in the Class of 1948 and from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1954.H.L. married his high school sweetheart, Sally McGahey Atnipp on September 13, 1949, and they were married for almost 65 years. Upon graduation from college in 1954, H.L and Sally moved to Midland, Texas where he began his professional career as a petroleum engineer with Texaco, Inc. While they made several moves around the oil fields in the Permian Basin, Midland became their permanent home in 1959. After H.L. left Texaco in 1961, he held executive positions with several independent oil and gas companies until 1980 when he began his own independent oil and gas operations which he continued until recently. H. L. and Sally loved to travel and he was an avid Texas Longhorn fan. He rarely missed an opportunity to watch his beloved Texas Longhorns on television. H.L. also took great joy in watching his 9 grandchildren grow up.H.L. is predeceased by his parents, Horace and Bernice Atnipp, and his loving wife, Sally. He is survived by son Michael H. Atnipp and wife, Myra of Midland, Texas, and their children, Marc Atnipp, Phillip Atnipp and Stuart Atnipp; son Stanley L. Atnipp and wife, Diane, of Midland, Texas and their children Thomas Atnipp and Samantha Atnipp; son Douglas C. Atnipp and wife, Roni, of Houston, Texas and their children, Julia Atnipp Stellar, Sarah Atnipp, Benjamin Atnipp and William Atnipp; and daughter VeeAnn Cross and husband Steve of North Falmouth, Massachusetts. H.L. is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.The family wishes to express their gratitude to Patricia Stewart for the wonderful care and devotion she showed to H.L. in the days since Sally passed away and to the other caregivers that provided such wonderful support for H.L. The family would also like to express gratitude to Diane Atnipp, H.L.’s daughter-in-law, for the faithful and selfless time and attention she devoted to H.L.In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.Arrangements are under the direction of the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
