Clovis Owen Linville

ARLINGTON -- Clovis O. "Toby" Linville, 94, a native of Tarrant County, died of natural causes Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. Memorial service: 1 p.m. Saturday at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Cooper St., Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Epworth United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Toby was born at home on a farm just outside the Fort Worth city limits. He attended the Fort Worth public schools, graduating from Polytechnic High in 1935. It was the time of the Great Depression and most of his job searches were non-productive. In 1937, through the generosity of a friend he was able to enroll in Texas Wesleyan College (now Texas Wesleyan University). He accepted an appointment with the Postal Service in Fort Worth in August 1941. In September 1941, he was drafted for 13 months' basic training in the peacetime Army. In December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and he was in the Army for the duration. Soon, he was shipped to European theater. He served 16 months in England as a sergeant in a quartermaster unit attached to the Army Air Corps. In August 1943, he returned to the States for air navigation training. Training completed, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and attached to a B-29 squadron. After serving four years and one month, he was discharged in October 1945. He resumed his postal career and served in managerial positions at the Fort Worth Post Office, Dallas Region and District offices. He retired from the USPS in 1973. He obtained a real estate license and was active in the real estate markets of the Oak Cliff area of Dallas and, later, Arlington. During his employment years, he occupied homes in Fort Worth and Dallas and, after retirement, Arlington. Toby was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, SAR, Arlington Historical Society, Contact Teleministry, NARFE and the Wednesday Morning Coffee Group. Toby was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Ballweg, and his siblings, Hollis, Lorena and Jack. Survivors: Wife of 28 years, Anita; daughter, Janis Linville of Wichita Falls; son, Stephen Linville of Dallas; stepdaughters, Catherine Rogers and Sue Ellen Lea; grandsons, Jason and David Rogers; granddaughter, Kristen Link; great-granddaughter, Alyssa Rogers; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233