Death Claims Van Alstyne Businessman
Special to The Times Herald

Van Alstyne, June 1. - John Umphress, 85, North Texas landowner, businessman, and banker, died Monday following a long illness.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the family home by Rev. Herman F. Mayo, pastor of the Van Alstyne Methodist Church, and Rev. Jimmy Duckworth, pastor of the Van Alstyne's Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Van Alstyne Cemetery.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Umphress, he was born Nov. 25, 1869, in Tallapoosa County, Ala.He lived in Texas since 1890.
Umphress had been associated with the First National Bank here since its organization.He became president of the bank in 1916 and was chairman of the board of directors until his death. Umphress had directed the operation of the Van Alstyne Cotton Oil Co. more than 50 years.
A prominent church worker, Umphress was chairman of the board of the First Methodist Church 38 years.
Survivors include his wife; a son Carl Umphress; a daughter, Mrs. Henry D. Hynds; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Spencer Taylor, all of Van Alstyne.