Lewis O. Vawter Jr.

Lewis O. Vawter Jr.

1921-2015

Funeral services for Lewis O. Vawter Jr., 94, of Marshall were held Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Eastern Hills Church of Christ in Marshall.

Interment followed at Grange Hall Cemetery. Lewis passed away June 5, 2015.

Lewis Orin Vawter Jr., was born May 7, 1921, in Marshall to Lewis O. Vawter Sr. and Lucille Maude Wyatt Vawter.

He served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II stationed at Carswell Air Base in Fort Worth. He served as an expert mechanic on B-17 aircraft achieving the rank of sergeant prior to his discharge in October 1945.

Tragically, his older brother, Perry Wyatt Vawter, was killed by enemy aircraft on Mindoro Island in the South Pacific days before he was to return to the U.S.

While in the Army Air Corp, Lewis married Evelyn Frances Holiday of Hughes Springs.

Two years later their first child, Gary Eugene Vawter, was born. Their daughter, Susan Jane Vawter, was born eight years later.

Like many families they faced challenges along the way. Susan died at age 11 from a virulent strain of hepatitis. Evelyn battled and survived thyroid cancer in addition to being severely burned during a propane explosion in their home.

Immediately after being discharged from the service, Lewis helped his father on the family dairy farm located on Hwy 43 in the Grange Hall Community south of Marshall. Years later he worked as a production foreman for Thiokol Chemical Corporation in Karnack.

Lewis and his young family purchased the old Vawter family property on the Hynson Springs Road west of Marshall in 1954 and with a lot of love and hard work turned the 130 acres into one of the prettiest properties in the immediate area. He raised cattle and farmed part of the property for many years.

Lewis and Evelyn were active members of the Church of Christ in Marshall – first at East Burleson Street and later at the Eastern Hills location when the congregation moved into a new, larger facility. Lewis served as both a deacon and elder of the congregation during part of his time there.

They also loved to travel. After acquiring an Airstream travel trailer in the 1970s they crisscrossed North America with members of their travel club for weeks at a time. On one occasion they were gone for six months before returning home.

Lewis was a devoted husband and full-time care-giver for Evelyn during the last several years of her life as she suffered from dementia. During the last two years of her life while she was a resident in a local nursing home, he was faithfully by her side from before daylight until well into the evening.

Following her death, Lewis followed his own advice and found a hobby he enjoyed that would keep him physically and mentally involved. For him it was playing 42. A typical week would find him playing with fellow 42-enthusiasts from around the area – sometimes four to five times a week. He soon earned a reputation for being one of the best 42 players in Marshall by his peers. As much as he enjoyed winning, he enjoyed the fellowship even more.

Following his oldest son’s death in World War II, Lewis’ father Lewis Sr., took a personal interest in caring for the Grange Hall Cemetery. His efforts attracted the attention of other families in the small community and began the evolution of the cemetery into one of the most beautiful in East Texas. Lewis Jr. proudly served on the Grange Hall Cemetery Association Board like his father before him.

Lewis is survived by his son, Gary and his wife, RaJean of Canton; his youngest sister, Mary Ann Wells of Santa Barbara, Calif.; three married grandsons, Brock and Cheryl Vawter of Garland, Brent and Paula Vawter of Edmond, Okla.; and Brad and Brenda Vawter of Kennesaw, Ga.; and four absolutely great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; older brother, Perry; oldest sister, Kathryn Robertson; daughter, Susan; and his parents, Lewis and Lucille.

Memorials can be made to the Eastern Hills Church of Christ Library, 2705 E. Travis St., Marshall 75672.