SARAH RUTH OWENS BOONE was born March 21,
1930 in Campti, LA to Otto Seba Owens & Ruth Lee
Lowery Owens.
At 89 years of age, Sarah peacefully slipped away
to be with her Lord on Aug. 29, 2019 after 10 years
of overcoming the challenges to her health. She
was a brave and courageous fighter proving again
and again the overcoming power found in a close
relationship with Jesus Christ. She was blessed
to finish her life's race in her home in Hobbs, NM.
She was known as Precious or Baby to her husband,
"Sake" to her siblings, Sister Boone to many saints
of God, Sarah to friends and family, Mom to her
children, and Meme to her grandchildren, great-
grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Sarah had a wonderful & exciting childhood surrounded
by her parents, 5 siblings, and the memory of one
child who passed away as an infant. Her parents were
both ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
there was always prayer and singing in the home. Her
mother played the guitar and her sister the accordion,
two brothers played guitars and one the harmonica and
spoons.
As a church planter, her dad felt the burden and desire
to start new churches throughout Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Due to the
itinerate nature of he family ministry, Sarah attended
12 schools in 12 years including Ranger High School in
the Class of 1948 at Ranger, TX, so she learned early
how to pray, lean on God, and to live by faith. In 1947,
her dad became the pastor of Rocky Point United Pentecostal
Church in the Bullock Community north of Ranger, TX where
she met Pete Boone (RJC-1948). After courting for a very
short time, Pete asked her if she would like to be
"Pete's Sake". Wilbur "Pete" Boone & Sarah Ruth Owens
were united in marriage in Sept. of 1948 at Rocky
Point United Pentecostal Church by Rev. Alonzo Sides.
Pete and Sarah began their family very soon with their
first-born son Randal. Sarah was enrolled in North
Texas State University of Denton, TX for a short time,
then continued life as a wonderful wife to Pete and
amazing mother to Randal, Daniel, Susan and John.
Wilbur "Pete" and Sarah began their pastoral ministry
in 1961 at Morgan, TX followed by Comanche and Temple,
TX. They went on to pastor the congregation of Life
Temple in Hobbs, NM in 1986 where they continued
faithfully until 2011.
Sarah always set herself apart from the crowd by her
diligence, determination, work ethic and a driving
desire to help and serve others to the best of her
ability. She was an amazing pastor?s wife, loving
everyone and always doing special things for the kids
and young people of the congregation. She was a
collector of many things. She loved clocks, dolls,
and antiques. She had a green thumb and loved to be
involved in landscaping projects. Sarah & Pete have
planted at least 30 trees in Hobbs including a 25'
tall Burr Oak Tree that she started with an acorn
in a pot.
HUSBAND: WILBUR LEWIS "PETE" BOONE was
born Oct. 7, 1926 in the Caddo Community, north of
Ranger, TX to Daniel Wayne Boone & Rosa Wessie Pearl
Mitchell Boone.
On Oct. 22, 2019, Wilbur at 93 years of age, made his
final “bucket-list trip” to be with Jesus whom his
loved and served with all of his heart, soul, mind,
and body. He is now reunited with Sarah, his wife
of 71 years who passed away less than two months ago.
He was weary from faithfully attending her needs for
the past several years as she bravely wrestled with
many health obstacles.
He was known to many friends and fellow ministers as
Wilbur. He was known to many parishioners as Pastor
or Brother Boone. He was known to his family as Pete,
“Dad” to his children, Popee to his grandchildren,
and Dear, Honey, or Pete to his wife.
Wilbur’s life was marked with hardship and determination,
the result of being raised by a single mom due to the
premature death of his dad when he was only eleven.
His family survived loss, hardship and yet success
during the depression and difficult years that followed.
He learned early on from his mother how to pray and seek
God. She taught him how to live a life that was surrend-
ered to Jesus.
Wilbur served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy
from Nov. of 1944 until May of 1946 during WWII. He was
the storekeeper and a gunner’s mate aboard the USS Wasp
and saw plenty of combat against the Kamikaze fighter
pilots from Japan.
Wilbur (Pete) Boone and Sarah Ruth Owens were united in
marriage in Sept. of 1948 at Rocky Point United Pentecostal
Church by Rev. Alonzo Sides. Wilbur and Sarah began their
family very soon with their first-born son Randal. Wilbur
graduated from North Texas State University of Denton, TX
around 1954. He taught school in Ft. Worth for several
years before surrendering his life to the ministry of a
Pastor for the United Pentecostal Church. He was a licensed
minister from Nov. 17, 1960 until his death. Wilbur and
Sarah began their pastoral ministry in 1961 at Morgan, TX
followed by Comanche & Temple, TX. They went on to pastor
the congregation of Life Temple in Hobbs, NM in 1986 where
they continued faithfully until 2011. Wilbur was always a
diligent worker, a wise counselor, a preacher of solid
Bible doctrine, and a pastor who worked hard to care for
his congregation.
He never met a stranger, and was friendly, passionate,
inclusive, loving, and fun as a Pastor yet serious about
obedience to God’s Word. He raised cattle on the side
for many years, and although he loved doing it, he always
managed to lose more than he made.
Wilbur and Sarah have planted at least 30 trees in Hobbs
including a 25’ tall Burr Oak Tree that she started with
an acorn in a pot. He loved to plant trees and shrubs in
the yard, while at the same time planting seeds of God’s
word in the hearts of people. He always had one eye focused
on the present and the other eye on the distant future.
Wilbur always wanted to make life better for those he loved.
While being a bi-vocational Pastor, he worked for & retired
from the State of New Mexico. His relationship with God was
well established and cared for. In his last years you
could often hear him praying diligently, worshiping and
singing his way through the difficulties that life threw
into his path. He was a dedicated student of the Word of
God who loved to study and share his discoveries.
This world has lost a friend and heaven has gained a ready
saint of God who has spent his life preparing for this
glorious transition.
Wilbur is survived by son Randal Boone of May, Texas; son
and daughter-in-law Daniel and Phyllis Boone of Mountain
Home, AR; son-in-law and daughter Jim and Susan Tippy of
Hobbs, NM; son and daughter-in-law John and Caryn Boone
of Lufkin, TX; one older brother Troyce Boone of Ranger,
TX; and one sister-in-law Mary Mitchell of Cypress, TX.
He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grand-
children, 4 great-great-grandchildren; and was preceded
in death by his wife Sarah, one daughter-in-law Linda
Boone and one grandson Cody Tippy; brother D.W. Boone
and one sister and brother-in-law Tillie Marie Turner
and Gordon Turner.