W.H. "Cuby" Kitchens, 92, longtime Hereford resident passed away Monday, April 6, 2020 in Hereford, Texas. Graveside services will be Friday, April 10, 2020 at 2:00 PM at West Park Cemetery with Tom Simons officiating. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in memory of W.H. "Cuby" Kitchens at a later time and date. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, Texas. Viewing will begin Thursday, April 9, 2020 from 1:30-8:00 PM at the funeral home. Due to the mandates that have been placed because of the COVID-19 virus, the funeral home can only allow 10 people in the funeral home at one time. Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience but your health and safety matter to us.

Cuby was born December 12, 1927 in Paducah, Texas to John Wesley and Dema Adell (Conway) Kitchens. Cuby attended and graduated high school from Childress, Texas and shortly there after attended West Texas State University graduating with a bachelor's degree in education in 1950. Cuby was drafted into the United States Navy in July of 1952 and served until April of 1954. Later he was inducted into the West Texas State University Basketball Hall of Fame. While serving in the United States Navy he married Bobbie Gene Ford on December 27, 1952. Cuby's first coaching job was in White Deere, Texas as the Boys basketball and football coach, he then coached in Groom, Texas for a year, shortly thereafter in 1956 he moved to Hereford making Hereford his hometown. Coach Kitchens coached Boys basketball, football, track and golf; he coached from 1956-1988. In 1988 he took the position of Assistant Principal at Stanton Jr. High School for 4 years and in 1993 he was transferred as the Assistant Principal to LaPlata Jr. High for a year, shortly thereafter retiring in 1993. Coach Kitchens played on the first Texas All Star High School Basketball Team and years later had the privilege to coach the Texas All Star High School Basketball Team; he played Semi-Pro Baseball while in the Navy, for the Amarillo Gold Sox; he played college basketball for West Texas State University; he coached numerous children on the Little League Baseball Team for many years. Cuby was a past member of the Hereford Lions Club and a member and a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Hereford. During his retirement he loved playing golf with his "golfing buddies", playing dominoes with his "domino buddies' and he and his wife Bobbie enjoyed playing bridge with other couples. He enjoyed and hardly ever missed going to his grandchildren's activities, near and far and he liked going to the horseraces. But one of Cuby's most favorite times was when he was broadcasting football games with Tom Simons. Together they broadcasted 26 seasons and from this came Cuby's famous words that will forever be dear to all the Hereford sports fans, "turn out the lights, the party is over".

Those left to carry on Coach Kitchens' legacy are his children Keith Kitchens and his wife Joni of Shallowater, Texas; Karen White and her husband Warren of Hereford, Texas and Kelly Kitchens of Sugarland, Texas; six grandchildren Cory Marsh and his wife Julie of Hereford, Texas; Cody Marsh and his wife Ashley of Amarillo, Texas; Colby Marsh and his wife Kristin of Hereford, Texas; Keenan Kitchens and his wife Jenee of Athens, Texas; Kiel Kitchens and his wife Kely of Dalhart, Texas and Kalli Kitchens of Lubbock, Texas and 13 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bobbie Kitchens in July 3, 2011 and three brothers Charles, Harold and Derwood Kitchens.

The family suggest memorials be made to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 244, Main St. Hereford, Texas 79045 or Hereford Senior Citizens, 426 Ranger Dr., Hereford, Texas 79045.

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com