Rev. Irvan L. Anthony, 91, faithful servant of God went home to meet his Savior on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from Ennis, Texas.
Irvan was born on September 14, 1926 in Ensign, Texas to Vilas Lee “Bess” and Leona (Johnson) Anthony. He grew up in the Ennis area and graduated from Ennis High School in 1945. On June 13, 1948 he would marry the love of his life “Dolly” Ruth Hornbuckle. After their marriage they lived in Ennis. They also lived in Tool, Texas for fifteen years before returning to Ennis. He surrendered his life to the service of his Lord in 1959. Irvan served his country proudly in the United States Army during WWII serving in the Pacific Theatre at the 7th Base Post Office in Japan.
He worked at the U S Post Office for twenty-seven years as a letter carrier and served as Pastor for the Providence Baptist Church of Tool for thirty years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #369 for over sixty years and Anthony Drive Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher for many years.
He and his wife Ruth were married for over sixty-nine years. He was a kind, soft spoken servant of God who loved his Savior first, his family second and everyone else he met third. He was heard saying many times he and Ruth would argue but they never talked of divorce, murder yes, but divorce no! His humor and his signature laugh will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Those left behind to carry on his memory are his wife, Ruth Anthony; daughters: Vicky Gerron and husband, Les and Suzanne Hamm and husband, Ray; four grandchildren; Jason Chapman and wife, Sharon, Shannon Nizio and husband, Larry, Jarod Hamm and wife, Susan and Kyle Gerron and wife, Mary; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Bess Johnson and a host of other family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Oran, Rupert, Everett and Dan Anthony, brother-in-law, Clarence Johnson.
Visitation was held on Friday, November 24, 2017 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Ennis.
A Celebration of his life was held on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the Anthony Drive Baptist Church with Rev. Coy Quesenbury officiating assisted by Tony Sinclair and Rev. Matt Walker. Pallbearers will be Jason Chapman, Colton Flynt, Larry Nizio, Dalton Nizio, Jarod Hamm, Preston Chapman, Kyle Gerron and Michael Anthony. Interment followed in Elm Branch Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.
