Claude Webster

August 11, 1933 - December 13, 2007

Fort Worth -- Claude C. "Tony" Webster died peacefully in his sleep Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, at the age of 74. Graveside service: 1 p.m. Thursday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lane B, in Dallas, with full military honors. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Claude's name to a charity of choice. Claude was born in Elkton, Va., on Aug. 11, 1933. He was a proud soldier of the United States Army who served his country in the Korean War from January 1953 to July 1954 and in Vietnam in 1967 and 1969, finally leaving active duty as an E-9 sergeant major with over 17 years of honorable service. He also served as a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, combined with federal civil service appointment as a unit administrator in the same capacity, and was an active reservist in the Army Reserve units of Texas and Oklahoma. Claude was a gifted writer, journalist and occasional syndicated columnist. He had a lifelong passion with the arts of music, song and dance, and was blessed with a velvety-smooth baritone singing voice, and was a talented ballroom dancer and instructor. We know he now sings with and dances among all the angels in heaven. Claude was preceded in death by his biological parents, Berkley J. and Ila Lamn Webster; his beloved adoptive parents, Frank and Alma Panatoni of Richmond, Va.; his sister, Opal Pash of Bronx, N.Y.; his wife, Vera Webster of Albuquerque; and their first-born infant daughter, Darlene Renee Webster of Fairbanks, Alaska. Peace has come to you, Daddy. Survivors: His children, Claudette Eileen Webster and husband, Rick Navarro, of Albuquerque, N.M., Michael Brian Webster of Albuquerque, N.M., Lisa Denise Morton and husband, Michael, of Katy and Marc Anthony Webster and wife, Martha, of Cypress; his brother, Lionel Webster and wife, Patricia, of Fort Worth; his grandchildren, Alicia, Sofia, Connor and Madison;; and several nieces and nephews.