Delbert "D.E." Elmo Ahlhorn

May 16, 1924 - March 26, 2021

Funeral services for Delbert "D.E." Ahlhorn, 96 of Paige, Texas, are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings with Rev. James Barrentine officiating. Burial will follow in the Giddings City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The family will be present for visitation Tuesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Delbert Elmo Ahlhorn was born on May 16, 1924 in La Grange, Texas to Charles J. and Alma M. (Boehme) Ahlhorn. He was baptized in Fayetteville by Rev. M.C. Hoermann on August 31, 1924 and confirmed on April 25, 1937 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Greens Creek by Rev. Paul Eifert. He was united in marriage to Annie Mae Bieberstein on May 9, 1948 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings. Delbert grew up on his father’s farm in Greens Creek, Texas along with his siblings Viola, Leon, and his twin sister Delfeen. He attended grade school in Bell Settlement. Delbert left the farm and moved to Kingsville to begin his long and illustrious career in the oil industry alongside Elmond A. “Mutt” Thormaehlen. This included working in the south lower Rio Grande Valley down to the international border of Mexico, west to Andrews and Midland, and north to the King Ranch where they drilled numerous wells, to Rockport and offshore of Matagorda Bay. After suffering several accidents that left him unable to perform his duties as a derrick hand and driller, he decided to move his family to Paige, Texas where he owned and operated Ahlhorn’s Grocery for 23 years. In the late seventies, he began a part-time job gauging wells for Hou-Tex Oil and Gas and then Kel-Petro Inc. He helped to get land leased, wells drilled, and completed for production. Delbert then formed Ahlhorn Oilfield Services Inc. to manage and operate the wells for Kel-Petro. Delbert went on to serve the Paige community by organizing the Paige Community Center and the Paige Fire Department. Delbert and Annie Mae closed Ahlhorn Grocery and Gas in 1992, but he continued working in the oilfield until 2000. Delbert regaled us all with his many stories and priceless history of the oil industry and the many characters he worked for, with, and employed. He was loved and cherished by all he encountered, even though his tough, no-nonsense work ethics were well known. He was also known for the many pranks he pulled. Delbert’s personal relationship and love of Jesus Christ was evident in his everyday life, his marriage to his soul mate, Annie Mae, and the way he raised his four beloved children. He took time to really see and hear those around him and would share openly his beliefs in his Lord and Savior. Mr. Ahlhorn passed away the evening of Friday, March 26, 2021 in Elgin, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Alma Ahlhorn; wife, Annie Mae Ahlhorn; brother, Leon and Margrete Ahlhorn; sisters, Alvira and Enno Wehrmeister, Lorene and Willie Pietsch, Viola and Rev. Carl Mutschink, and Delfeen Ahlhorn; daughter-in-law, Cynthia Ahlhorn; son-in-law, James Bridges; parents-in-law, Ben and Alma Bieberstein; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lillian and Hershel Doyle; brothers-in-law, Otis Bieberstein and Monroe and Clara Bieberstein. Delbert is survived by his four children, Larry Ahlhorn and wife Cathy of Wichita Falls, Donny Ahlhorn of Paige, Debbie Ahlhorn and Cordell Twomey of Elgin, and Brenda Ahlhorn Bridges of Paige; eight grandchildren, Zachary Ahlhorn and Justin Ahlhorn of Wichita Falls, Tim and Natalie Kmoch of Cedar Park, Tanya and Adam Kerr of Round Rock, Ashley Ahlhorn of Paige, Matthew Ahlhorn of Paige, Christine Ahlhorn of Elgin, and Victoria and Heath Bridges-Seaton of Washington; four great-grandchildren, Lucille Kerr of Round Rock, Heath Seaton Jr. of Washington, Bayleigh Seaton of Washington, and Emileigh Seaton of Washington; brother-in-law, Leroy and Nancy vonBieberstein of Giddings, and nieces and nephews, Kenneth and Susan Ahlhorn, Clifford Ahlhorn, Barbara and John Wilson, Gary and Nancy Doyle, Carlee Benke, and Miles vonBieberstein. Serving as pallbearers are Gary Doyle, Kenneth Ahlhorn, Isaac Wade, Bruce Krueger, Adrian Cowan, and Lester Barton. Honorary bearers are Clifford Ahlhorn, Johnny Cowan, and Donald Kelly. Memorials may be made to the Paige Volunteer Fire Department, the Paige Community Center, or the charity of one’s choice.