Pierre Wilman. St. Romain (1909-2012)

Published October 04, 2012 1:30pm by Russ McKee

Pierre Wilman. St. Romain (1909-2012)

  Pierre Wilman. St. Romain, age 103 went to be with his heavenly Father on October 1, 2012 at the Yoakum County Hospital in Denver City.  

 Visitation will be 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Friday, October 5, 2012 at Plains Memorial Chapel 910 Avenue E Plains, TX.  Rosary will be held 7:00 P.M., Friday, October 5, 2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plains.  Funeral Mass will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Plains ISD Auditorium 1000 10th Street Plains, TX with Father Heriberto Mercado and Rev. Dr. Joe Thanavelil officiating.  Burial will follow at Plains/Yoakum County Cemetery.  Personal services have been entrusted to Mark A Jones Funeral Directors of Seagraves/Plains Memorial Chapel.          

  Mr. St. Romain was born to Joseph Herbert and Blanche St. Romain on August 21, 1909 in Plaucheville, Louisiana. He entered the business world at 13 as a bicycle messenger, full-time clerk/telegraph operator by age 15, and at 20 began a career with Humble Pipeline. Pierre served his country from 1928 - 1933 in the Citizens Military Training Camps.

 He married Mary Josephine Luna, on June 30, 1939 in Plains.  They settled in Hobbs until 1941 when they started their family in Denver City.  Plains became their permanent home in 1944 where Pierre established the Romain Telephone Company and was the Owner/operator for 57 years.  During this time Mr. St. Romain named the streets of Plains to provide a phone directory for customers and later made it possible to call toll free from Plains to Denver City and Higginbotham. After retiring in 1976, Pierre increased his volunteer time in the community.

  Pierre was a member of the Plains Lions Club; Lions Club International; Charter member of Yoakum County Federal Credit Union, Chamber of Commerce in Plains and National Telephone Association.  He was chosen as Citizen of the Year in 1991 and received honors from all the above listed organizations for 50 years of service.  One of his life’s accomplishments was acted out in the 100th Celebration Play of Yoakum County. Pierre was a founding member of the St. Williams Catholic Church in Denver City and then the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plains where he maintained the properties and served as treasurer until the 1990’s. He also contributed to the organization of Catholic Churches in Brownfield, Seminole, Seagraves, Hobbs, Jal and Eunice.

  His family remembers how he loved their frequent camping trips, they treasure the stories he told of his life and the songs he sang to them. St. Romain enjoyed traveling the world with  the love of his life.

  Those left to cherish his memories are: wife, of 73 years, Mary Josephine Luna St. Romain of the home; 2 sons: Sam St. Romain and wife Sandra of Quitman, TX and Joe St. Romain and wife Elouise of Plains; 2 daughters: Jeanine St. Romain of Virginia Beach, VA and Suzahn Smith and husband Calvin of Crane County, TX; 1 brother: Herbert St. Romain of Alexandria, LA plus numerous nieces and nephews.  He was blessed with 13 Grandchildren and 25 Great-Grandchildren.

  He is preceded in death by both parents, 3 Brothers: Chester, Moore and Earl St. Romain and 2 Sisters: Pearl Chauffepied and Nelver Delaune.

  Family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Plains/Yoakum County Cemetery C/O Virginia Sanders 680 US HWY 380 Plains, TX 79355; St. Williams Catholic Church of Denver City 401 Mustang Avenue Denver City, TX 79323 or Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Plains PO Box 656 Plains, TX 79355.