I.D. "Dave" Minter

I.D “Dave” Minter passed away quietly on April 30, 2018 at his home in Macon, Georgia. Dave was born July 23, 1930 in Red River County, Texas to Nettie Pearl Davis Minter and John Jacob Payton (Pate) Minter. Dave Minter was born in 1930, in Red River County, Texas. His given name was I.D. as he was named after a friend of his dad’s who was always just called I.D. Dave’s dad never knew his friend’s real name so just named his son with the initials, “I. D.” I.D. adopted the name Dave in 1951 when he enlisted in the Army.

When Dave was about six months old his father, a farmer, moved the family to West Texas where they lived in various places including: Tahoka, O’Donnell, the OK Community, Seagraves and Lamesa. Dave, as a young boy, raised a variety of fowl (chickens and guineas) as pets, much to the dismay of his mother. When he was about six years old and living in West Texas a tornado hit the family home. Dave had been reaching for a doorknob when he felt himself lifted by the wind. He was knocked out. His sister, Juanita, found him in a field far from the house, his head caked in what appeared to be mud. She helped him back to the flattened house. So many in the family had been hurt that Dave stayed quiet. His mother had to go to the hospital for several weeks. It wasn’t until the day after the tornado that the family discovered Dave had a large gash on his head. The mud had covered and mixed with the blood from his wound which hid the injury. Dave said he didn’t want to say anything since so many others were hurt.

In February of 1951, Dave was inducted into the Army in Abilene, Texas. His first assignment was Fort Riley, Kansas where he served in the 76th Artillery Battery, 105 Howitzers. In September of that year Dave was sent to Inchon, Korea via the Liberty Ship Sadao Munermori. He was originally assigned to the 570th Ordinance Medium Automatic Maintenance, 8th Army, Suwon, Korea. In the Spring of 1952, Dave was transferred to the 2nd Military Police Co. Provisional, Koje Do (Koje Island). His job was to guard North Korea prisoners and he returned to the Masan, Korea POW camp with a shipload of North Korean prisoners. Dave returned to the United States in 1953 and was discharged from the service with a rank of Corporal at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

Upon his discharge, Dave returned to the family home in Lamesa, Texas by Greyhound bus. The following year, moved to Hobbs, New Mexico and in 1956 he moved to Farmington, New Mexico where he would stay until relocating to Georgia in 2016. During his early adult years, Dave worked at various jobs in oil fields. In Farmington, Dave worked in construction and sold real estate, and he and his Mother owned and operated a trailer park and a restaurant.

Starting in 1966, Dave attended San Juan College in Farmington, and then transferred to Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, graduating with a BA on April 13, 1969. On April 3, Dave married Bonnie Janice Robertson in Farmington, New Mexico. Together, they opened Alamo Military Surplus on April 8, 1971 in Farmington, selling a fatigue cap on opening day. The business grew to be very successful and expanded into a new, larger building in 1981. With the opening of Alamo Military Surplus, Dave and Bonnie found their business niche and passion which were to last for over 40 years. Alamo Military Surplus also provided a special place for grandchildren and veterans. Grandchildren loved to visit and explore picking out new camo, knives, hats, camping gear and camo netting for decorating office cubicles and general tomfoolery. Veterans from everywhere felt welcome to browse or sit among the ammo boxes sharing stories and visiting with other veterans. Others came to trade sand paintings, military items, art, antique saddles, unusual uniforms or helmets or whatever they had. Dave was always willing to make a fair trade and often provided some employment for those in need. A number of movie crews found props and clothing at his store including the blue camp dishes used in the movie “City Slickers”. The business was closed at the end of 2015 with Dave’s final retirement.

Dave enjoyed sports of all kinds. He was a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys and supported all teams from Texas. Dave played and coached baseball for many years, including while serving in Korea. He even had a stint in the semi-pros. Dave had lots of stories, especially of the oil field leagues. One story Dave told was of a grounder hit past the shortstop with two runners on base. During the play, a spare ball accidently popped out of the second base umpire’s pocket, meaning two balls were on the field during the play. Mayhem ensued. During another game the baseball was hit so hard it began to unravel. The fielders threw an unraveling ball around the field.

Dave and Bonnie shared many passions during their 44 years of marriage. They loved animals and rescued dogs, cats and the occasional water fowl. Some animals became members of the family, most especially Amber and Captain. Amber was a cockapoo they found on a rainy night after a car hit her. Amber bit Dave when he tried to pick her up, but they nursed Amber back to health and she remained a loyal companion for the next seventeen years. Captain, a broad-chested, red German Shepard, guarded Dave and Bonnie and their store. All visitors had to pass the “Captain Test”. For exercise, he retrieved cantaloupe-sized rocks. Dave and Bonnie also admired watching animals, especially longhorns.

They also loved to travel throughout the Four Corners area and would think nothing of driving three hundred miles in a day, just to look at the scenery. They loved walking in the canyons and the mountains, and Dave collected many arrowheads and ancient beads just by looking while walking through country where ancient Puebloans had lived. They drove and camped (in a tent) all over the United States, often stopping at historical sights, places of beauty, and family homesteads/cemeteries often researching their genealogy. They especially loved seeing ranges, ranches, farms and small towns, and finding and visiting with distant cousins.

Dave was a voracious reader of histories, especially Korean War histories, but he would read anything and everything. Once he was found reading the magazine, “Sixteen” to the amazement of his teenage stepdaughters.

Dave had a gentle, unassuming nature. He told the stories of dislocating his shoulder, not once but three times and would have it put back in without pain medicine. He was always okay, he never complained or had a problem. He developed shingles in the later years of his life and asked if someone had anything for a rash. The shingles covered his stomach and his back, but still he never complained. He was always “okay.”

Dave was a devoted husband. As Bonnie aged he continued to drive her around the countryside, which she loved. He took care of her with patience and with great compassion. Over the years we will remember him and his deep love of her. In our minds he will be walking next to her holding the leash of their dog.

Dave was proceeded in death by his half-brothers: J. Willmer Minter, J. P. (Pete) Minter, his sisters: Bernice Minter, Juanita Valeria Lee Williams, his brothers: Robert Dean (Bud) Minter and John Dane Minter, grandson: Michael Andrew Crane and great granddaughter: Aria Danielle Crane. Dave is survived by his niece Iris Lee Barkman of Farmington, New Mexico and other nieces and nephews. Dave is also survived by his step-children and their families, whom he considered his own: Stanley Allen Crane (Margaret Mary Patricia – Tricia) of Healdsburg California, Robert Eugene (Robbie) Crane (Karen) of Durango, Colorado, Janice Dee Crane Traugh (Mark William) of Macon, Georgia, and Mildred May (Millie) Crane Meyer (Norman) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. His grandchildren: Audrey Celeste Crane, Allen Thomas Crane (Jenny), Mika Davina Schwartz Christmann, Brian Robert Crane (Wendy), Daniel Price Crane, Kelly Maureen Crane Schroeder (Josh), Scott Christopher Traugh (Michelle), Jennifer Bonnie Traugh Martin, Lowell Robertson Meyer (Cailyn) and Alton Packard Meyer (Grace). His great grandchildren: Clementine and Calliope Crane-Brown, Autumn Crane-Buckman, Dylan, Wednesday and Igby Crane, Olivia Christmann, Trinity and Trace Crane, Rhylann and Reagan Schroeder, Zachary and Katelyn Martin, Jackson and Elizabeth Traugh and Claire and Sophie Meyer.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 pm Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Rd., Macon, GA on May 30 with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Magnolia Park in Warner Robins, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your local no-kill animal shelter.

Register online at www.hartsmort.com.

Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.

Following Chapel service