January 11 obituaries

John Archer Fagin

1929 – 2021

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. — Isaiah 55:12

John Archer Fagin, 91, of Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas, stepped peacefully into heaven in the early morning hours of January 6, 2021.  His loving wife, Martha, was at his side.  A private family service will be held at a later time.

John was born in Long Beach, California to Verne Archer Fagin and Ruth Isabel Ziegler Fagin on November 11, 1929.  John and his brothers, Cliff and Jim, grew up in southern California and Kilgore, Texas during the oil boom.   

John graduated in 1946 from University High School in Los Angeles at the age of 16. He worked various oil field jobs and alternately attended LA City College, UCLA, and Kilgore Jr. College before finally landing at the University of Oklahoma in 1952.

At OU, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.  One fine summer day, he was at the North Base swimming pool and spotted a real beauty with long legs and long brown eyelashes, Martha Ann Benning.  Martha had just graduated with a teaching degree from OU where she was a Chi Omega and music education major.  Martha went on to teach while John concluded his studies.  After John graduated in 1954 with a BS in Petroleum Engineering, he began his service in the United States Army during the Korean War.   He served In Tokyo from September 1, 1954, entering as a Private and leaving with the rank of Private First Class on May 31, 1956.  His job was to develop topographic maps of Korea that were based on aerial photos provided to him.  He received the Good Conduct Medal for Foreign Service as a Terrain Analyst.  John served in the Army Reserve until 1961. 

John and Martha were married on September 1, 1956 in Norman, Oklahoma at the First Baptist Church.  John worked for Pan American Oil Company in Duncan and Oklahoma City until 1964 and then Newmont Oil Company in Artesia, New Mexico and Snyder, Texas until his retirement in 1985.  He was Superintendent and later Manager of Newmont’s West Texas–New Mexico division.  In addition, John served as a Director for Fagin Resources, Inc. for more than 25 years.   

John was a very supportive father attending many of his children’s extracurricular activities. He loved Martha’s music programs with Snyder Independent School District, square dancing, and bridge. His grandchildren nicknamed him “GoogleDad” because he was Google before Google was Google.  He always had much to contribute to any conversation and there was absolutely nothing that he didn’t know something about. John loved nature, collecting rocks and gardening.   

John and his family traveled extensively.  Most summers they would go on what would be considered epic camping expeditions visiting numerous National and State parks.   In retirement, John and Martha took many trips touring and cruising in Hawaii and Alaska, Colombia, Europe, Russia, Africa, China, Canada, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.   John enthusiastically encouraged his children and grandchildren not to pass up any opportunity to travel. 

John and Martha were charter members of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1962.  In Snyder, John and family were members of First United Methodist Church and currently are members of Argyle United Methodist Church. John was a longtime member of the American Petroleum Institute and Society of Petroleum Engineers.   John enjoyed his time with the Lions Club, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Board and Investment Club. He enjoyed many spent volunteering with other club members at various Snyder events.

John was a servant leader for the City of Snyder and Scurry County.  John was a member of the Snyder City Council from 1974 to 1976 and later became the Mayor of Snyder from 1976 to 1980.  Additionally, John served on the first City Charter Revision Committee between 1976-1980, the Deep Creek Watershed project with the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Snyder Chamber of Commerce. John assisted in the creation of the Development Corporation of Snyder and was a DCOS board member from 1993 to 1996.

From 1988 to 1994, John was a Trustee at Western Texas College.  During his tenure as trustee, John was instrumental in encouraging the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to build a state prison in Scurry County, which opened up opportunities for the college to educate both prison personnel as well as inmates.

Knowing that quality water was critical for the ongoing growth of West Texas, John served as a Director of the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD) from 1984-2001.  Today the CRMWD provides water to 36 counties and more than 600,000 residents in West Texas.  John worked on several projects during his time with CRMWD. One of his most enjoyable and notable projects was the construction of the O.H. Ivie Reservoir and water distribution system that was completed in 1990. 

In 1980, John was awarded the C.T. McLaughlin Oil Award for his outstanding contributions to the oil and gas industry.  He also received the Bill Vestal Mayor’s Award in 1992 for his contribution through cultural, economic, and governmental activities related to the development of the Snyder community.  In 1996 he was recognized with the Mayor’s Commendation for his contribution to the progressive development of Snyder through his service on the Development Corporation of Snyder Board of Directors.

John and Martha created many lifetime friends and memories while in Snyder.  John and Martha moved to Robson Ranch, a Texas retirement community in Denton, Texas in 2001 where Martha still resides.  They are Robson Ranch Pioneers and were involved in development of many of the community and social clubs.  John loved to play golf, bridge and recruit prospective homebuyers to the special Robson Ranch Community.  John and his Robson Ranch friends were bell ringers almost every Christmas for the Salvation Army.  

John is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Martha Ann Benning Fagin and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: 

Daughter Ruth Ann and husband Joe Brower of Graham, Texas, and granddaughter Katie Brower Wise and husband Jonathan Wise and great grandsons Walter and Wyatt Wise of Midland, Texas and granddaughter Frances Brower of Los Angeles, California; daughter Sarah and husband Joe Cutrona of Ft. Worth, Texas, and grandson Nicholas Cutrona of Villanova, Pennsylvania and granddaughter Caroline Cutrona of Ft. Worth, Texas; son Paul and wife Belinda Scott Fagin of Kingwood, Texas, along with granddaughter Ellen Fagin of Austin, Texas and grandson Reid Fagin and wife Haley Fagin of Kingwood, Texas.   John also leaves many close Fagin cousins, nieces and nephews.  John was preceded in death by his parents, Verne Archer Fagin and Ruth Isabel Ziegler Fagin Hodges and his brothers, Clifford Bence Fagin and James Norris Fagin.  John will be remembered as being a dedicated civic and community leader, living life to its fullest, embracing adventure, and bringing humor to just about every situation.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the John Archer Fagin Scholarship Fund at Western Texas College, c/o Western Texas College Foundation, 6200 College Avenue, Snyder, TX 79549 or to the Scurry County Museum, also at 6200 College Avenue, Snyder, TX 79549. 

No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.