Palestine High School Alumni Association

08 / 04 / 1917  –  12 / 23 / 2001

Services for A.D. Surles, Jr., 84, of Palaestine, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Chapel of the Air at Land of Memory Cemetery with Rev. Greg Megill officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of Herrington / Land of Memory Funeral Home.

Mr. Surles died Sunday at Palestine Regional Medical Center.  He was born August 4, 1917 in Eustace to A.D. Surles, Sr. and Lillie Foster Surles.  Mr. Surles  moved to Palestine with his family in 1934.  He graduated from Palestine High School in 1934.  He was a graduate of Lon Morris Junior College and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of North Texas in Denton.  He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served in the choir and taught Sunday School.

His interest in the community was shown as his long interest in the Anderson County Historical Communission, as well as being a founding organizing member of the Palestine Art League, Museum for East Texas Culture and Howard House Museum.  He retired in 1979 from the Missouri Pacific-Great Northern, United Pacific Railroad.  Mr. Surles served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945 in Texas, Oklahoma and India.

He is survived by his brother, Clint C. Surles of Palestine; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at the funeral home

Memorials may be made to the Sanctuary Fund, Palestine United Methodist church or to one of the mentioned interest areas.

Source:  Palestine Herald Press