Dib Glynn Compton

Long time Fritch resident, Dib Glynn Compton, 95, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 13, 2024 in a nursing home in Colorado City, Texas. He was born on November 8, 1928 in Merkel, Texas to P. A. Compton and Mary (Jameson) Compton. 

The family moved to Fritch when Dib was two years old. His parents taught him the value of hard work as a young man. He helped in the operation of the small family dairy, getting up early to milk. He learned to milk a cow in a hurry. One morning his father caught him and Carl Jameson squirting milk into the mouths of the beckoning cats in the barn, rather than into the bucket – bringing a stern rebuke for wasting milk. 

As he got older he went on wheat harvest for a couple of years during the summer. He knew the conductor of the train that passed through Fritch and would hop onto the train when it stopped at the small depot building just north of where the Cefco store is now located, usually around dusk. The train would continue on to Sanford where they would spend several hours moving and switching cars for Phillips Petroleum. The train continued on and stopped in Morse, Texas about dawn, where the engineer and conductor had a favorite place to eat breakfast. Dib’s employer would pick him up there and he worked for several days harvesting wheat before returning, by train, to Fritch.

He graduated from Phillips High School and went right to work for NGPL. His first job was to assist in the maintenance of the 40+ houses located in the company camp. This is where he honed his skills, leveling floors, shimming doors, replacing windows, painting, etc.

Dib married Elva Coilla Lievsay February 15, 1951 and they made their home in a small “shotgun” house in Fritch. He started building a house and worked on it while holding down his full-time job. His tools consisted of a dilapidated table saw and several old hand tools acquired from his dad. The work on the house continued for years because he bought materials as he had the money. He lived his entire life with the belief that if you don’t have the money to pay for it you don’t need it. The house was covered with black tar paper and had no windows for two years, while waiting to save enough money to buy the windows. He never had a mortgage. He worked on the house every spare minute and became a pretty skilled builder. When a joint required a nail, he drove two nails. He finally reached a point that the house was ready to be bricked, so he drove to Amarillo to talk with brick masons that were working in the newer neighborhoods. After the second visit he came home and said “I can do this.” He ordered the brick and laid every brick on the house, garage and fence. 

He was a can-do person, teaching his children that fear of failure will cripple you. 

He finished his work with NGPL in the pipeline maintenance department at age 58, after 40 years of continuous service. His happiest years were after he retired and could work for himself. He continued to do physical labor and was still installing and repairing roofs into his early eighties. 

Honesty, integrity, hard work and giving defined his character. He lived what he preached. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Dib was a plain and simple man, but most of all he was a good husband, father, grandfather and dedicated Christian. He was a long time member of the Fritch Church of Christ. 

Dib loved Elva, his wife of 73 years, his constant companion and helper. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ruth Tudor, and grandson James Compton. 

He is survived by his wife Elva Compton, son Gregory Compton and wife Karen, daughter Coilla Smith and husband Randall, nephew Brad Wicker, 5 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. 

Viewing will take place at the Minton Chapel in Fritch, Tx from 8 am-8 pm on Thursday, August 22 and Friday August 23.

The family will have a private burial at a later date.

The family requests memorials be made, if desired, to the High Plains Children Home,11461 S. Western, Amarillo, TX 79118