Oscar Hudson Routh

Oscar Hudson Routh
Pappo

Hudson “Pappo” Routh, cherished husband, father, grandfather, great and great-great grandfather, went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 30, 2021, just a few months shy of his 90th birthday. He passed peacefully in his sleep and can now rejoin the love of his life Jean “Memmo” Routh in eternal rest. June 8th would have been their 70th anniversary.
Hudson was born on September 26, 1931, in Olney, TX to Louis Wayne and Essie Beulah Routh. Essie passed away when Pappo was 17 months old, and he never really knew her, so his father raised him with his other siblings Donald Wayne, James Pearson, Jewel Marie and Patricia Ruth Routh. They grew up in a shotgun house and did not have modern amenities but with the help of neighbors and friends rarely did without. They later moved to a company house provided to Louis but it was 4 miles out of town. Pappo literally ran to catch the school bus every day. Rain, sleet, snow or shine, he ran. His father even fudged on his age so he could start school early at age 5. School was his daycare, and he became very good at school and sports. He was especially good at sports including baseball, football, basketball and track and field. His father and brothers were all accomplished boxers and saw the talent in their baby brother. His senior year at Olney High School, he was voted “Best All Around in Sports” and was Senior Class President. His fastest times in the 100- and 220-yard dash are still only tenths of a second off the current world records but were run on dirt tracks with holes dug for starting blocks.
His senior year at Olney he tried out for the New York Yankees and made the team, but when they found out he was only 17, he was asked to try again the next year. The Chicago Bears also invited him to rookie camp, but his age was a factor with them as well. He instead tried to enlist in the Navy at the end of World War II to follow in his brothers and dad’s footsteps of service to this great country, but the war ended before he was shipped to boot camp.
He then accepted a full ride scholarship to Texas Technological College and was a standout Scatback his freshman year. In one game alone, he scored 6 touchdowns and kicked 6 extra points. But in his sophomore year he was hurt and could no longer play. He lost his scholarship but met Nova Jean Atchison sitting across from him in Science Class. She was not fond of jocks, but it was truly love at first site for them and they married shortly thereafter. Pappo worked in a lumberyard to earn a living while attending school, but could not afford books, so he did all his studies and homework in the library. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1953 with Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
His first job was in Louisiana with Stanolind Oil. They wanted him to work offshore but Memmo would have nothing of it, so they moved back to Lubbock to be closer to her family. He was offered a job with Dow Chemical to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, but chose not to raise his children there, so he accepted a job with Dowell and moved to Artesia N.M. Both girls Paula and Pamela were born in Lubbock during that time as Artesia did not have a birthing hospital. He was later transferred to Hobbs, N.M. and both of his sons, Samuel Curtis and Tobin Hudson were born there.
He was again promoted and transferred to Monahans and was the Station Manager for Dowell there until he was transferred again to Midland to become the District Manager. After a few years, he accepted a position with Runnels Mud Company, owned by former New Mexico US Representative Harold Runnels. After several years with Runnels Mud, Harold Runnels passed away. By fate or by chance, he was walking down the street pondering his next move when he met Foy Boyd and Johnny Mulloy on a street corner waiting for the light to change. They hit it off immediately and he joined Foy Boyd and Associates as Operations Manager. He and Johnny Mulloy became fast friends and when Foy closed that consulting firm, he and Johnny formed JW Mulloy and Associates and ventured out on their own. After retiring from JW Mulloy and Associates, he and Memmo travelled far and wide to play golf and enjoy life. Memmo hated airplanes, unless it was going to Hawaii or Las Vegas, so they drove back and forth to Horseshoe Bay, and many other golfing destinations including Myrtle Beach and everywhere in between.
Pappo was preceded in death by his loving wife Jean, his parents Louis and Essie, sister Patricia, and both brothers, Don and James P. “Red” Routh. He also lost both of his daughters, Paula Anderson Garcia and Pamela Jensen Snodgrass.
He is survived by his sister Jewel McNeil, his two sons Samuel Curtis and Tobin Hudson, grandchildren Phillip, Laurie, Tara, David, Emerald and Paul; great grandchildren Everett, Owen, Ethan, Troy, Madilyn, Robert, Zaylon, Barrett, Ember, Collin and Charlie Rae. Pappo also had three great great grandchildren, Lucy, Luke and Coleson.
After their golfing days became limited, he loved sitting with Memmo in his back yard, one of the nicest putting greens in Midland, and watching his kids and grandkids play barefooted in that wonderful, plush sea of green grass. To Pappo, a day of weeding the yard consisted of any eye dropper with weed killer in it for the one or two weeds that dared show up in his paradise.
Oscar Hudson Routh was a true man of God, had impeccable character, sincere and often blunt honesty, and had an undying love for his family that would get you run over by a freight train if you messed with one of them. He had great wit and charm and lived by the strongest of creeds.
The world was a better place with him in it and he will truly be missed.
Viewing will be from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Services will be on Wednesday July 7, 2021 at 1:00pm at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church following a private burial service. Our special thanks go out to Tammy and Janie of Jenn’s Loving Caregivers and Home Hospice of Midland.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.