He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve prior to the Korean conflict. As a central office telephone equipment installer for Western Electric – A.T. & T., he served as local president of CWA Local 6290 TX-OK, with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He was an International Union Representative for the Communication Workers of America and past president of the CWA Staff Union. He retired as assistant to District 12 vice president Dale Magee of CWA in 1986.

He was also retired from Western Electric – A.T. & T. His CWA assignments had taken him to New York City, Indianapolis, Toronto, Canada, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Orange County, and San Francisco, California, Vancouver, Washington, Austin, Texas, Dallas and finally back to Austin.

He attended Leon School and Alameda High School in Alameda, California. He attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. He attended George Meany Center for Labor Studies, letter editing studies, Silver Spring, Maryland. He had resided in Arlington, Texas since his retirement in 1986 after 40 years of service with CWA. He most recently resided in Corona close to his loving daughters.

Mr. Monkres was a Mason, a 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite Dallas Consistory and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine., Hella Temple, Dallas. He was a member of Lovers Lane Methodist Church, Dallas, and honorary life member of Communication Workers of America AFL-CIO, Retired Members Club CWA, and Retired Officers and Staff Association. He was commissioned Honorary Texas Colonel by acting Governor Doyle Willis on August 13, 1961. He was a lifelong Democrat and co-chairman for the Hubert Humphrey presidential primary, 1972 Orange County, California. He had never missed voting in a Democratic primary and the general elections. He served as a committee member and Charter Vice Chairman of the Perpetual Care Fund for Leon Cemetery where he and his family had conveyed two city blocks. He was a lifetime member of the Love County Oklahoma Historical Society and a volunteer and vice president of the Love County Oklahoma Military Museum.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ruth Wilson Monkres; brothers Jimmy, Keith, Howard Benton, Kenneth, Harold, Jack, Bobby, and Billy; sister, Voncille Monkres Kassen; and wife, Georgia Joyce Monkres on January 18, 2018.

Survivors include daughters, Loretta Monkres Schultz and husband David of Corona and Karen Jean Monkres Cagle and husband Jerry of Aliso Viejo, California; granddaughter, Janai; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services under the direction of Larry Hicks were held in Leon where his ashes were interred.

This obituary included a photo of Mr. Monkres.

Thank You For Your Service!