Page 46 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
P. 46
H.L. Futch A Man of
Quiet Strength
by Rachelle Fulkerson and Marsheila Copeland
service in the Army Another train ride took him to
but was denied Seattle, where he boarded a boat
because his two for the University of Alaska. This
older brothers were snowy wonderland set the stage
already serving for life-long love. In addition to
in the armed his typing responsibilities for
forces. In fact, the Army ROTC program, H.L.
his oldest brother devotedly volunteered at the
Merle made the First Baptist Church in Fairbanks,
ultimate sacrifice Alaska. It was in this faith-filled
in Italy later that community that he found the
year. This denial love of his life, Lois Chappell.
caused a temporary
deviation in his After accepting a position as a
path, so he decided missionary from the Southern
Baptist Convention, Lois found
herself serving the families at the
Fairbanks church. This North
Carolina native had no idea that
n a small farm near she would stumble into love on
Guthrie, Texas, a man the steps of that very church.
Oof quiet strength was She was scheduled to return
born. This man would go on home for her sister’s wedding in
adventures to the furthest parts August but instead chose to have
of the United States, picking up her own wedding on the same
the love of his life along the way. day, just two short months after
His is a story of determination, meeting H.L.
service, and love.
With the onset of the Korean War,
H.L. Futch was born fourth in H.L.’s commission was extended
line to Henry and Nancy Futch to attend Hardin Simmons an additional year in which they
on their farmstead in 1926. He University, pursuing sports and welcomed the birth of their son,
joined his sister and two older music. He spent one year in Wayne Futch. The small family
brothers as they worked the Abilene, then transferred to Texas served in Alaska until 1952 when
country store and later the ranch Technological College. the Army paid for both H.L. and
in Dickens, Texas. When H.L. Lois to attend Howard Payne
was fifteen years old, his little Texas Tech proved to be a College in Brownwood, Texas.
sister Nan Jo surprised the family challenge that prompted H.L. to During this time of committed
with her arrival. This event enlist in the Army again in 1948. study, Lois earned her Master
helped start H.L. on his pathway This time determination paid off, of Divinity and H.L. finished his
of service as he assisted his and he was dispatched to Fort degree in music.
mother in cooking, cleaning, and Ord, California for basic training.
caring for others. After a cross country train ride In 1957, H.L. and Lois returned
through the land of opportunity, to the Hub City to lead the
At eighteen years old, H.L. felt he arrived at Camp Lee, Virginia, singing in multiple churches
the call to serve our country. to attend clerk typist training, around the area; their daughter,
After graduation in 1944, he which fit his reserved personality Marsheila, was born in Lubbock
attempted to volunteer for perfectly. in 1959. During this time, H.L.
46 Lubbock Senior Link
