SHORT, OPAL ERNESTINE FORTENBERRY (1929 ~ 2015). The following is an obituary for Ernestine "Dink" Short, spouse of former Texas Senator and House member E.L. Short. The obituary was provided by Combest Family Funeral Home of Tahoka.
Ernestine (Dink) Short of Tahoka passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the age of 86. She was born in Dawson County to E.G. (Shanks) and Dottie (Martin) Fortenberry on January 27, 1929. After she was delivered by kerosene lamp light, an uncle living with the family at the time of her birth said "she sure is a dinkie little thing", so her name became Dink. Dink graduated from Dawson County High School in 1946 and married E.L. Short in Lamesa on June 8, 1947. They were married for 67 years. They lived in the Grassland Community before moving to Tahoka in 1959. Dink was a homemaker. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Tahoka and active in Tahoka where she assisted her husband with many activities in the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. She was an active school mother and organized many money-making project for proms and school trips. Dink was an avid campaigner for her husband when he ran for the state office in the Texas Legislature and Senate. She was a member of the Legislative Ladies Club and the Senate Wives Club. Dink was a farm and ranch wife and worked beside her family picking cotton and working cattle. She was an excellent cook and her chocolate pies and biscuits were legendary. Many people waved at Dink daily as she was always working in her yard. She won Yard of the Month many times.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, E.L.; four daughters, Vivian Bruns and husband Larry of Sierra Vista, AZ, Leah Taylor and husband Doug of Tahoka; Patti Kilpatrick and husband Merle of Brownwood; and Robin Taylor and husband Wayne of Brownfield; eight grandchildren, Darren Bruns and wife Lisa of Denver, CO; Collin Bruns, currently serving as a civilian in Baghdad, Iraq; Carrie Long and husband Jeff of Tahoka; Clay Taylor and wife Celeste of Tahoka; Lance Kilpatrick and wife Nikkie of Charleston, SC; Erin Walkup and husband Josh of Sierra Vista, AZ; Meliah Taylor of San Angelo and Trey Taylor of Dallas; great-grandchildren, Colton, Warren and Nataly Taylor; Jackson, Landon and Ryan Bruns; Cagnie and Cambrie Long; and Michael and Evan Walkup.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Pat Fortenberry, Nita Hadaway, Oleta (Toots) Harrison, Clayton Fortenberry, Nell Russell and a twin who died at birth, Geraldine.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February10, 2015 at Combest Family Funeral Homes with family receiving friends 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at First United Methodist Church. Interment will be Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist in Tahoka, First United Methodist Church in Brownfield or any favorite charity.
