In Memoriam
1930s
Sara Cunningham Coleman, BA '39, of Havana, FL, died April 7 at age 99. She taught at Baylor, where she met and married Charles Foster "Froggie" Coleman, BA '38, in 1939. They were active at Baylor and Waco's Columbus Avenue Baptist Church until 1957. Then they lived in Georgia and Ohio before moving to Florida. She held leadership roles at Salem United Methodist Church, was president of the Havana Garden Club and volunteered at local organizations. For roughly 50 years, Coleman wrote postcards daily, many to her Baylor suitemates. Among her survivors are her siblings Mary Boone, BA '44, and Sam Cunningham, three children, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Student Scholarship Fund.
1940s
Almarie "Amy" Jenson Best, BA '41, of Waco died May 20 at age 95. She was a member of Spring Woods United Methodist Church in Houston. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Alfred Clinton Best, BBA '48. She is survived by one sister, Evelyn Jenson Mankin, BS '44; children Robert Best, BBA '69, Betsy Willis, BBA '71, MTax '77, and Susan Mathis; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Betsy Best Willis Endowed Scholarship Fund in Accounting at Baylor.
Mary Evelyn Eubanks Voss, BA '41, of Gatesville, TX, died April 3 at age 95. She was valedictorian of Gatesville High in 1938 and graduated from Baylor in three years. At Baylor she obtained her private pilot's license through the Civilian Pilots Training course. Mary Evelyn was a FBI employee from 1941 to 1944 and an executive administrative assistant to Houston independent oil producer Frank W. Michaux from 1945 to 1995. She married Harry C. Voss in 1944. The Vosses lived in Houston for many years before retiring to Gatesville. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gatesville and a past president of the Morris Federation. Survivors include her sister Billie Margaret Eubanks Short.
Weldon D. Bigony, '42, of Waco, died Aug. 10 at age 96. Bigony played football at Baylor from 1938 to 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, just six months short of graduation, Bigony left Baylor to enlist in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. He was stationed in Shanghai and eventually joined CNRAA Air Transport (later renamed Civil Air Transport, or CAT), which flew in support of the Chinese Nationalists against the Chinese Communists during the Chinese civil war. He married Amalie Harpfinger in 1949. Following the fall of China in 1949 to the Communists, the couple evacuated to Taipei, Taiwan, where they raised their three children and he continued flying for CAT. In 1950, as the Cold War began, the CIA secretly acquired CAT to conduct its clandestine air operations throughout Southeast Asia. Air America was also a part of the CIA’s clandestine air operations in Southeast Asia, and Bigony was often called to fly for it. After 28 years of flying for CAT and Air America, he joined Air Jamaica in 1974 before retiring at the age of 61. In 2002, at age 82, Bigony returned to Baylor to complete his final 24 credits to earn his business degree--on his 60-plus-year-old football scholarship. One week shy of his 83rd birthday, Weldon graduated before 10,000 cheering classmates and families on May 17, 2003. Bigony appeared on Oprah and The Today Show and was featured in many media outlets such as USA Today and People magazine. He ran his first marathon at age 60 and medaled in every race-walking event in which he competed in the 2003, 2005 and 2007 Senior Games. He was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame’s Wall of Honor in 2006. Weldon was a loyal supporter of Baylor athletics, a familiar figure at football, basketball, tennis and baseball games, a member of the Baylor Letterwinners Association and Baylor Heritage Club, and a frequent volunteer at Baylor athletic events. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Big Spring and Grace Church in Waco. Among his survivors are his three children and three grandchildren.
Doris Underwood Gillen, AB '42, of Tyler, TX, died March 19 at age 93. She graduated high school at age 16 and worked two jobs to pay her tuition at Baylor. She remained a faithful follower and a devoted fan of everything related to Baylor. During World War II, she received an emergency teaching certificate and began teaching. She soon married Blake Gillen, her husband of 49 years. They served their communities through Baptist churches in Texas, including Blooming Grove, Hubbard, Waco, Corpus Christi, Austin and Corsicana. After his death in 1990, she was a member of Green Acres Baptist in Tyler and Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX. While serving on the school board in Corsicana she marshaled desegregation of the schools. She founded two preschools, led numerous civic and church committees, and organized a group to save an abandoned Jewish temple in Corsicana. Survivors include her children Gay Gillen, BA '67, Jim Gillen, BBA '71, JD '73, and Mary Gillen Burch, BSEd '85; five grandsons and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Doris Gillen Endowed Law School Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
Katherine Gulos Godsman, BA '42, MA '43, of Thornton, CO, died Feb. 8 at age 93. She worked at Waco High School and then moved to Houston to work for Shell Oil. She married Mitchell Godsman in 1944. They had six children. She worked as a psychologist in Michigan, Virginia and Colorado. Godsman was listed in Who's Who of American Women, World Who's Who of Women, Personalities of the South, Community Leaders of America and Dictionary of International Biographies. Among her survivors are six children, including Elizabeth Godsman Lunday, BS '75, JD '78, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Justin Truett Hunt, BBA '42, of Kenedy, TX, died July 29 at age 96. Hunt was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and he served on the USS Mount Baker in 1943. He married Lillian Ann Gibson, BS '43, in 1945. In Kenedy, Hunt owned Truett Hunt and Co., a cotton merchandising business; managed Kenedy Compress and Warehouses; and started Karnes Insurance Agency. He was also a cattle rancher. He served First Baptist Church for many years as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and treasurer, among other responsibilities. He was a longtime Rotarian, president of the Kenedy Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Kenedy City Council, as well as the Kenedy Airport Board. Hunt was a director on the boards of First Nichols National Bank and the San Antonio River Authority, where he was an elected representative for Karnes County for 30 years. He was a founding member of the Karnes Limited Citizens, which served residents with special needs. Among his survivors are two children, including Margaret Hunt Rice, BS '75; seven grandchildren, including Kristen Rice Jackson, BFA ’02; and eight great-grandchildren.
Dr. W. LeRay Fowler, BA '44, MA '45, of Houston, TX, died June 14. He was 92. Also a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fowler pastored First Baptist Churches in Moody, Brady, Ballinger and Sweetwater before serving 23 years as pastor of West University Baptist Church, where he was named pastor emeritus. He served on the Southern Baptist Executive Committee and the Southern Baptist Annuity Board. He was a member of the first Baylor Youth Revival team in 1945, a movement that spread nationwide. Fowler served as a trustee of Houston Baptist University and the Baptist Standard. He served on the boards of Texas Baptists, Human Welfare, Baptist Memorials and Christian Education. He received three Freedom Foundation awards for messages and television programming. After retirement Fowler served as chair of Adopt an Annuitant, a committee that raised millions for Christian workers who had no retirement. Fowler visited over 90 countries and every continent. Among his survivors are his wife of 70 years, Rosemary Turner Fowler, AB '45, two sons, four granddaughters including Kelsey, BSEd '07, and Kimber, BSEd '09, and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the LeRay and Rosemary Fowler Scholarship at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary.
Mary Pearl Quick Brigman, BA '45, of College Station, TX, died April 18 at age 92. She played drums in the Golden Wave Marching Band and in the Waco Symphony Orchestra. She taught speech and drama at Delta State College where she met her husband, Otis Hobbs Brigman. They lived in Houston most of their lives. She served First Baptist Houston for many years as a Sunday School teacher, camp counselor and chaperone for countless youth activities. She was a member of the Baylor Student Foundation and served as president of the President's Advisory Board at Houston Baptist University. Among her survivors are her children, Linda Hopper, BA '76, Mandy Chykaliuk, BS '76, Julie and Otis Boyd Brigman, BBA '84, and Betsy Morin, '84, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Dr. Bettye McDonald Caldwell, BA '45, of Little Rock, AR, died April 17 at age 91. A 2016 inductee into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame, Caldwell was an educator and academic who influenced the development of Head Start. She earned a master's degree at the University of Iowa and a doctorate in psychology at Washington University. Caldwell worked for several universities including Northwestern University, Washington University, Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate. At Syracuse, Caldwell worked with pediatrician Julius Richmond on child development studies. Finding that poor children trailed off developmentally after age one, they created a day care center for children six months to five years of age. As the first infant group day care, the center required a waiver from the state. Caldwell felt that an emphasis on early childhood education could help to "level the playing field" for poor children before kindergarten. In 1964, Caldwell and Richmond's work led to the establishment of the Head Start project under Lyndon B. Johnson. Richmond was the first director of the project. In the late 1960s, Caldwell moved to Arkansas. Working on the faculty of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, she established the Kramer Project, an initiative establishing a day care center associated with a Little Rock elementary school. Caldwell became the Donaghey Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1978, the same year she was one of Ladies’ Home Journal's Women of the Year. She joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1993. She and her husband, the late Dr. Fred Caldwell, BA '46, had two children, Paul and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Majors Smith Githens, '45, MA '50, of Waco, died July 10 at age 96. She was one of eight siblings and had 54 first cousins. An honor graduate of Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, she came to Waco in 1941 to attend graduate school at Baylor, where she met physics professor Arthur Wallace Smith. They were married from 1944 until his untimely death in 1955. During her teaching career at Baylor (1945-69), she inspired a generation of students while becoming emeritus professor of English. From 1963 to 1965, she pursued doctoral studies at the University of Kansas. Back at Baylor, she remained active in Round Table and AAUP, and she was faculty sponsor of Kappa Theta sorority. In 1969 she married Sherwood Githens Jr., a Duke professor who had served as physics chair at Baylor from 1949 to 1952, and she then taught junior high in Durham, NC. After she was again widowed and moved back to Waco, she ventured in 1987 to Japan to teach one year at Baiko Gakuin University. Among her survivors are two daughters, including Sarah Smith Randles, '70, three stepchildren, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Dr. Asa A. Newsom Jr., '45, of Dallas, TX, died May 8 at age 92. He attended Southwestern Medical School and became a captain in the U.S. Army. Newsom practiced OB/GYN at Baylor Hospital in Dallas for more than 40 years. He was a longtime member of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Newsoms were recognized as a First Family of Baylor. He is survived by his wife, Dot, BA '46, and sons David, BA '68, JD '70, Kirk, BS '72, JD '75, and Kent, BA '72, JD '73. Contact Kent at kentnewsom@gmail.com.
June Page Johnson, BA '45, of Austin, TX, died March 13 at age 92. At Baylor she met Sam Johnson, BBA '46. They were married 56 years until his death in 2002. They lived in Hillsboro, Houston and Austin when Sam was elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in 1973 and was later appointed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. June worked for the Appropriations Committee of the Texas House of Representatives and for the Speaker of the House. She was appointed to the Governor’s Committee to study Problems in Health Care in Texas and the Board of Regents of Texas Woman’s University (1984-87). She was a member of the Austin Heritage Society, Women’s Symphony League, Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni, State Official Ladies Club and Austin Law Wives Club. Johnson made lifelong friends among her Baylor suitemates, and they have supported a Suite 602 Scholarship for young women for decades. She served as first vice president of the Baylor Alumni Association and as chair of the Women’s Athletic Council, and she was appointed to the Athletic Program Review Task Force by the Baylor Board. In 2004, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin awarded her an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Presbyterian Women for her outstanding service. Among her survivors are three children including Sam J. Johnson, BA '84, six granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.
Nancy Cranford Isaacks, BA '46, of Bulverde, TX, died June 27 at age 90. She played the lead in various Baylor Theater productions and was a Baylor Beauty and an Athenian (Kappa Kappa Gamma). She taught one year at Baylor as her husband, Jim Isaacks, BA ’47, finished his degree. They were married for 70 years. Presiding over her funeral service were Baylor graduates, Rev. Phil Sitton, BM '67, and his wife Pat, BA '65. She is survived by her husband, five children, including Molly Ann Ferguson, BA '82, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Contact Jim at 6463 Circle Oak Dr., Bulverde, TX 78163.
Judith "Judy" Hodge Sterling, BA '46, died March 26 in Grand Prairie, TX, at age 90. Judy was an avid birdwatcher, nature lover and gardener. Her backyard was a certified Wildlife Habitat through the Natural Wildlife Foundation. Her husband of 55 years was Dr. Mac Sterling, Baylor professor emeritus and chair of psychology from 1956 to 1986. They had three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Perry Flynt Webb Jr., BA '46, of Natchitoches, LA, died May 14 at age 91. He graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1949 and served as a Baptist minister for 74 years, including as pastor of the First Baptist Churches of Poteet, TX; Natchitoches, LA; Albany, GA; and Baton Rouge, LA. He was president of the Louisiana Baptist Executive Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He led the building of the first off-campus facilities of the Baptist Student Union at Northwestern State University. Webb was also a member of the executive board of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He held positions in the Southern Baptist Convention and served as chair of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a trustee for Louisiana College and Tift College, and he was member of the BAA board of directors. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virginia Powell Webb, BM '49, children Deborah Webb Smith, BS '75, and Perry Flynt Webb, III, BA '76, four grandsons and a sister.
Gene H. Mixson, JD '48, of Midland, TX, died May 29 at age 96. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and served in the Army Air Corps until 1946. Mixson practiced law in Higgins, TX, until 1953, at which time Humble Oil in Midland employed him as a landman. He retired from Exxon in 1985. He was a member of the State Board of Texas, Midland Lodge 623 AF&AM and Columbus Avenue Baptist Church of Waco and First Baptist Church of Midland. His wife of almost 50 years, Iris Lynette Mixson, BA ’42, preceded him in death. Memorials may be made to James G. and Gertrude Mixson Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
Frances Oleta Osborne, MA '48, of Lampasas, TX, died April 17 at age 99. She also held degrees from Hardin-Simmons and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Osborne taught in Corpus Christi, TX, and in Austin, with 26 years were spent at Casis Elementary School. She was a past president of the Lampasas County Retired Teachers Association, and she was librarian at First Baptist Church Lampasas. She made scholarships available at Hardin-Simmons, Baylor, Wayland and Austin Presbyterian Seminary.
Nina Ruth Raber, BSN '48, of San Antonio, TX, died March 29 at age 88. She is survived by her sister in-law Carol Raber; nieces Lori Uhler and her husband Kerry, and Arlene Davis; nephew Paul Raber and his wife Tonette; and others. Memorials may be made to Baylor's Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
Dr. Calvin C. Turpin, BA '49, MA '52, a retired Southern Baptist minister of Edmond, OK, died March 29 at age 91. Turpin was a retired administrator and professor of religion at Hardin-Simmons. He served as the National Chaplain for the American Legion from 2000 to 2001. After high school, he served in the Army Coast Artillery and Field Artillery before becoming a Prisoner of War administrator. After two degrees at Baylor, he earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, an MA from Vanderbilt, and a Doctor of Science in Theology from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, he studied at the University of Arkansas and Texas Tech. Turpin authored seven books and many articles. He served over 20 years as a chaplain in the Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol. He retired as the organization’s national deputy chief of chaplains. As the American Legion’s national chaplain, he visited the President in the White House, gave an opening prayer for Congress, participated in the groundbreaking for the World War II Memorial, and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. He was predeceased by his wife Eudell Coody Turpin.
1950s
Dr. Keller Preston Greenfield, BS '50, MD '53, of Richardson, TX, died March 25 at age 94. He was working for an oil company when World War II broke out, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps and was assigned as a bombardier/navigator for B-29s. He married Wanda Jean Tyler in Brownfield, TX, in 1948. In 1953, he graduated from Baylor University College of Medicine. He practiced as a doctor for 21 years in Denver City, TX. He was on staff at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas (1977-91). He completed three marathons in his 60s and continued his medical practice until age 93. Greenfield served as a Baptist deacon, city councilman and served others through mission trips, Promise Keepers and Need Him ministry. His wife Wanda; children Dr. D. Tyler Greenfield, BBA '80, Suzanne Tsatsoulas, BS '81, and Carolyn Agapos, BBA '84; and eight grandchildren survive him.
Glenn E. "Bud" Harris, BBA '51, of Oklahoma City, OK, died Jan. 18 at age 88. He was the last of his family to own Harris Meat Packing Co. before he sold it. Harris followed his sister Helen Harris Bruner, BA '37, and brother M. Lee Harris, BBA ’41, to Baylor after he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was baptized at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City by Dr. W.R White, who later was a Baylor president. As a youth Bud received a pin for 10 years perfect attendance in Sunday School and church. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Norma Harris, and their four children and families.
Norma Sheehy Rhodes, MSEd '51, of Waco died April 6 at age 94. She graduated from Waco High School and the Fowlkes-Han School of Expression at age 15. After attending Arlington Hall in Washington, DC, she earned a degree at the University of Texas. She married Charles W. Rhodes Jr. in 1942, but he was killed a year later. Rhodes was involved with the Waco Service League supporting the two airbases in Waco. She was involved with starting the Junior League of Waco and the Waco Civic Theater. She worked with other organizations such as The Woman's Club of Waco, McCulloch House, Historic Waco Foundation, Waco Cotton Palace, Strecker Museum, Providence Hospital and Waco Foundation. Rhodes was the treasurer for Braswell-Davis and Associates for 40 years before opening The Rhodes Gallery in 1989. Among her survivors are her son Charles (Sandy) Rhodes, BBA '67, four grandchildren, including Charles (Rocky) Rhodes BA '90, JD '92, and Susan Bahry, BS '91, and their families.
Jake T. Tucker, BBA '51, of West, TX, died July 14 at age 89. He graduated from Hillsboro Junior College before Baylor and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Jason. He owned West Lumber Co. in West for 55 years. Tucker and his wife also owned J&B Realty. He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of West. He was also a member of the West VFW, Kiwanis Club and American Legion, along with serving as Westfest associate director and over 50 years as a volunteer fireman. He was a founding board member of West Rest Haven and served on its board for 46 years. He was also a pilot, farmer and rancher. Among his survivors are his wife of 65 years, Bettye Shockley Tucker, BBA '51; three daughters, including Gayle Gardner, BSEd '77, and Anne Flores, BBA '83; two siblings, including Martha Hix, BA '49; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Dr. Carl R. Wrotenbery, BA '51, of Fort Worth, TX, died June 19 at age 86. He held degrees from Tyler Junior College, Baylor, University of Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was dean emeritus of libraries. Wrotenbery married Julia Winn, BA '52, in 1952, and they had two children, R. Alan Wrotenbery (deceased), BMEd '80, and Martha Runnels. He was a member of Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth and a former member of University Baptist Church and Gambrell Street Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, daughter, three granddaughters and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Alan Wrotenbery Music Scholarship fund at Baylor.
C. Jack Schleuning, BBA '52, of San Antonio, TX, died April 4 at age 86. He was a captain of the first football state championship team from San Antonio in 1947 (Brackenridge High) and held the city 110 hurdles record for years. He played in the Orange Bowl and ran track at Baylor. Schleuning worked for the Gill Co. and retired as an executive vice president after 35 years there. After retirement, he spent much of his time at the family cattle ranch in South Texas. His survivors include his wife of 65 years, Virginia, and two sons.
Betty Dean Hilbert, BA '53, formerly of Uvalde, TX, died Jan. 6 in La Jolla, CA, at age 83. Hilbert taught at Lakewood Elementary School in Waco until she married Jim Hilbert in 1958. She taught school in Durham, NC, while he earned a nuclear physics degree from North Carolina State. They moved to California in 1979, and she was preschool director at La Jolla Presbyterian Church from 1990 to 2014. The couple had two children and two grandchildren. Other survivors include sisters Joyce Dean Burlison, BS '55, and Marion Dean Singleton, BBA '57.
J.B. Cotten Jr., JD '54, of Lubbock, TX, died June 3 at age 87. During World War II he was responsible for running the family's Gaines Co. ranch while attending high school and playing football. He also played football at New Mexico Western. After Baylor he moved to Odessa to enter law partnership with his father. He had a passion for breeding and racing thoroughbreds and quarter horses. He was president of the Quarter Horse Association of West Texas, a member of the Baptist Church and a Master Mason. In 1970, he relocated his law practice to Lubbock and joined the Lubbock law firm Huff and Bowers before forming Bowers and Cotten law firm. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Virginia Mac McCracken, BS '53, children Suzanne Hudnall and J.B. Cotten IV, four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two sisters.
Patricia Goss Haltom, BBA '55, of Houston, TX, died May 5 at age 84. She grew up a few blocks from the Baylor campus and was president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Haltom taught elementary school in El Paso, TX, before moving to Houston, where she was a stay-at-home mom who raised three children while helping her husband run his business for more than 30 years. She was a founding member of Memorial Assistance Ministries and volunteered there for over 20 years. She was also active in Chapelwood ministries. Her survivors include her husband of 58 years, Hal Haltom, three children and their families.
Dr. Barbara Tyson, BA '55, of Huntsville, TX, died April 8, 2015, at age 81. She earned her doctorate from the University of Texas and taught more than 30 years in Texas, the Azores and Japan. She was a professor of English at Sam Houston State University for 25 years.
John Soles Brunson, BBA '56, JD '58, of Houston, TX, died April 8 at age 82. At Baylor he served two terms as president of Baylor Chamber and as vice president of his senior class. He practiced law for more than 30 years and continued to provide legal guidance. He participated in the State Democratic Party of Texas in the 1960s and '70s and coordinated Gov. Dolph Briscoe's campaign in Harris County in 1972. He was a member of the "C" Club of Houston, a non-partisan group providing endorsements toward fiscally conservative candidates. He ran for the U.S. 22nd Congressional District in 1976. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Houston for over 75 years. He served as chair of deacons and in many other leadership roles and taught Sunday school for roughly 60 years. He served on the boards of Houston Christian High School and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served many years on the board of Macedonian Call, an organization providing vehicles for missionaries home on furlough. Among his survivors are his wife of 62 years, Joan Erwin Brunson, BM '56; children Mark Brunson, BSEd '77, and Dana Brunson Dawkins, BM '81; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brothers Bryant Brunson, '52, and Robert Brunson, BBA '59.
David C. Craighead, BA '56, of Midwest City, OK, died Jan. 19 at age 84. From 1973 to 1989, he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing District 95 in Midwest City. During his tenure as a state representative, he acted as assistant majority floor leader and served as chair of these committees: House Education, Special Joint on International Development and Municipal Government. After his legislative service, he was a lobbyist for the Oklahoma Conference of Churches and the Head Injury Foundation. Craighead worked as editor, reporter and columnist for Texas and Oklahoma newspapers. He also wrote books, poems and plays. He was involved in civic and social activities and organizations at the state and local level. As a political activist, he worked with the OKC Peace House and Campaign Finance Reform efforts. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Among his survivors are his wife Betty, two daughters and two siblings.
Bette Lu Nichols Schwarz, '56, of Belton, TX, died July 9 at age 80. She lived in Waco, Harlingen, McAllen, Mission, and Belton. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, P.E.O., Reviewers Guild and WMU. She was a licensed professional counselor at Step House in McAllen and at First Baptist Church in McAllen, where she had been a member since 1957. She was a trustee of the Baptist Memorials Ministries in San Angelo and served on the Baylor Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Education advisory board. She was president of ADKAR Inc., and she was instrumental in the introduction and marketing of Cloud Cover, a product used to protect plants. Preceding her in death was her brother Dr. William Silas Nichols, MSEd '51. Among her survivors are her husband of 63 years, Robert Louis (Bob) Schwarz, BBA '53, JD '55; children Robert Louis (Bobby) Schwarz II, '74, William Arthur (Butch) Schwarz, BBA '82, and Barbara Schwarz Young, JD '89; and five grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Law School Faculty Fund.
Charles W. Horton Jr., BA '57, of Graham, TX, died June 9 at age 80. He also held degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Wesleyan. He was born to deaf parents and became a teacher, counselor and dean of students at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin. Among his survivors is his wife of 57 years, Vera Helen Acock Horton, BA '57.
Joan Barzak Wood, BA '58, of Woodway, TX, died June 13 at age 79. She taught in Waco public schools, was a member of the Waco Historical Society and served as general chair of the Brazos River Festival in 1976. She was vice chairman of the McLennan County Republican Party, a member of the state Republican Executive Committee and on the Governor’s Commission for Women. Wood also was a Sunday School teacher, senior warden and vestry member at the Church of the Holy Spirit. Her survivors include her husband James F. Wood, three children and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
James M. Millerman, BBA '59, of Dallas, TX, died April 22 at age 78. He was a captain of the state champion Abilene High School Eagles football team in 1954 and played for Baylor, where he was also in Chamber. He joined the family insurance business, Millerman & Millerman, in Abilene and expanded the business after moving to Dallas in 1970. Millerman earned his CPCU designation and was president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Dallas in 1987. He worked many years at TexCap Insurance and was on the North Central Texas Young Life board for over 20 years. He also served in Grace Bible Church as an elder and in other roles there for over 40 years. Among his survivors are his wife of 59 years, Esther Annis Millerman, BA '57, three children, four grandchildren, and two siblings, including John Millerman, BA ’63.
1960s
Dr. Archie B. Blackburn, BA '60, MS '65, MD '65, of Corpus Christi, TX, died April 10 at age 77. He served in the U.S. Navy as a physician participating in NASA-related psychological study near the South Pole, simulating life in outer space. He later moved to Houston, where he was a staff psychiatrist for the Veterans Administration. Blackburn dedicated his entire career to counseling soldiers returning from combat. Survivors include his wife Elena and their family, sister Claydell Blackburn Stone, BA '58, MA '64, and nephew Henry Stone, BA '94, JD '96.
John "Mac" Borders, BBA '60, of Dallas, TX, died March 30 at age 78. He played basketball at Baylor and radio became his passion. Borders worked for top stations in Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, Pittsburgh, PA, and Dallas (KLIF), where he was "Johnny Dark." He later went into sales management and bought his first station in 1973. He owned and operated 36 stations, including two Dallas FM stations; served on board National Association of Broadcasters; inducted into Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2001; and chosen as Radio Ink magazine's National Broadcaster of the Year in 2001. Borders and his team built the 25th-largest radio company in the U.S. He sold the stations in 2000-01. Among his survivors are his wife of 34 years, Pam; four siblings, including Nancy Fagan, BA '72; two sons and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Athletic Director's Excellence Fund in support of men's basketball.
Robert Joe Meador, BA '60, LLB '63, of San Antonio, TX, died June 12 at age 72. He also graduated from Texas Military Institute. He built a law practice doing mainly civil trial work. Meador taught Sunday School at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He was a member of the German Club, the Order of the Alamo and the San Antonio Country Club. Surviving him are his wife Bonnie, two children, including Robert Joseph Meador Jr., BA '88, and three grandchildren.
John Whitten Pierce, BS '60, of Houston, TX, died Dec. 19, 2015, at age 80. He traveled the world primarily as a big-ticket oil equipment salesman. Pierce developed an interest in growing orchids, obtained his license to import plants from other countries, and grew and crossed orchids as a hobby for many years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeanette, two children and five grandchildren. Contact Jeanette at jpierce60@comcast.net.
Dr. Nancy Elizabeth Ray White, BS '60, of Dallas, TX, died March 21 at age 78. She graduated from Southwestern Medical School with an MD in 1963. White completed a pediatric internship and residency and cardiology fellowship at Children's Medical Center Dallas. She worked in the Children's Medical Center outpatient clinic and later for the City of Dallas Health Dept. at M.L. King Center for 12 years. She practiced private pediatrics in Dallas for 22 years until 2005. Among her survivors is her husband of 55 years, Arlton White, and brother Alfred Ray.
Carey Ann Sanford Sturgis Dalton, BA '62, of Waco died May 11 at age 75. She was crowned Miss Meridian, MS, in 1958. She taught special education students for several different schools in Waco for many years. She then pursued a career in real estate before becoming the director of the Arthritis Foundation where she started the Margarita and Salsa Festival and the Jingle Bell Run fundraisers. She was also an avid gardener, church volunteer and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waco. Survivors include her husband James Dalton, BS '61; three children, including Laura Patterson, BFA '85.
Frederick Marshall Allen, BBA '65, of Gassville, AR, died April 24 at age 72. He played Baylor football and helped win the 1963 Bluebonnet Bowl. Allen played semi-pro ball in Plano, and his job with Texas Bank & Trust in Dallas enabled him to introduce MasterCard and Visa to the area merchants. He also worked as the financial officer for a property company that constructed and maintained office complexes and multi-family dwellings. This job took him to Tulsa, OK, in 1980. He started Noah's Pantry, a pet boutique with food and fashions for pets. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Allen, BS '68, two children including Eric Allen, '92, a brother and five grandchildren.
Turner W. Branch, JD '65, of Los Ranchos, NM, died Aug. 4 at age 77. He was student body president at the University of New Mexico and remained active throughout his life in the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Branch was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps on active duty at Quantico, VA, before attending Baylor Law School where he received the T.R. McDonald Award as the outstanding law student. He returned to Albuquerque, NM, to practice law in 1965 and became a nationally known trial attorney. He was a member of the State Bars of New Mexico, Colorado and Texas and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He also served as a New Mexico state legislator. He founded the Branch Law Firm and was known for taking on challenging, complex and controversial cases as well as catastrophic class actions and mass torts against pharmaceutical companies on a national and international basis. Named the 2003 Baylor Law School Lawyer of the Year, Branch was instrumental in shaping New Mexico law. In 1976, he was lead counsel in the landmark decision of Hicks v. The State of New Mexico, which for the first time allowed injured individuals to recover damages for the wrongful conduct of the State. He also represented the State of New Mexico in litigation against the big tobacco companies. Branch was part owner of KQTM, Albuquerque's ESPN Radio affiliate. Among their philanthropic gifts, the Branches helped underwrite the Turner and Margaret Moses Branch Courtroom in Baylor's Umphrey Law Center and a Baylor law student scholarship program. His survivors include his wife Margaret Moses Branch and two children and their families.
Jan Stanfield Davis, BA '66, of Asheville, NC, died Jan. 9 at age 69. She married Dr. Hugh Steven Davis, BA '67, in 1966 and earned an MA from the University of Colorado. Jan and her family resided in Rome, GA, until 1989. She was active in several churches over the years. She worked in real estate at Beverly Hanks and Associates and was an artist and librarian. Her survivors include her husband Steve, two daughters, two grandchildren and several siblings.
George Knox Pittard, BBA '66, MBA '68, of Bedford, TX, died April 24 at age 72. A member of the Texas Six Man Hall of Fame, he played football for Baylor, the Baltimore Colts and Atlanta Falcons before coaching at the University of Missouri. He and Pam Berry, BA '66, enjoyed 52 years of marriage. (Please see the following obituary.) His business career started with IBM in 1968. He spent 40 years in high tech areas such as AT&T, Southwestern Bell, GTE and Intervoice. He had taught at Tarrant County College since 1971 as an adjunct professor. He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Euless for many years. The couple embarked in homebuilding in the 1980s. Pittard officiated track and field events and donated 24 gallons of blood. He was a member of the Baylor University Presidents Club and was instrumental in his parents' locker room legacy campaign honoring involvement in Baylor Athletics. He served as president of Baylor Letterwinners Association and helped start the Baylor Athletics Wall of Honor.
Pamela Berry Pittard, BA '66, of Bedford, TX, died July 14 at age 72. She had a 30-year teaching career with the Birdville ISD. Most of those years were spent teaching first grade at Snow Heights Elementary where she was named Birdville Teacher of the Year. After her teaching career, Pittard spent many years working for a medical uniform company. She was involved in the Miss Texas Pageant for 13 years. She and her husband (please see the preceding obituary) spent many years organizing and working with the Mid-Cities Baylor Club. She was a member of the Tarrant County Baylor Women's Council and Bear Hunters Club, encouraging students to attend Baylor. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and worked with the Circle of Friends organization, dedicated to projects benefitting cancer patients at Cook Children's Hospital. During her cancer journey, she wrote Eagle in a Storm, a book to encourage for anyone facing a life threatening health challenge. Among the Pittards' survivors are sons Steve, BBA '90, and his wife Belinda BBA '90, and Kirk, BA '95, JD '99, and his wife Lisa, BSEd '93, MA '94, JD '00; four grandchildren, his three siblings and her three sisters, including Rebecca McKenzie, BSN '73. Memorials may be made to the Baylor "B" Association or the Louis and Eugenia Pittard Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund in Football.
James Edward Langford, BBA '68, of Hewitt, TX, died May 12 at age 70. In 1969, he began his career at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, where he eventually served as vice president for compliance, regulatory and governmental affairs until his retirement in 2009. He stayed active by teaching insurance classes at Baylor, and he served in the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association Office of Austin. Among his survivors are his son Jason Langford, BBA '01, two grandsons and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Insurance Excellence Fund at Baylor.
Dan Mahanay Boulware, JD '69, of Cleburne, TX, died March 17 at age 70. He attended Texas Wesleyan before Baylor Law School. He served as county and district attorney before becoming a partner in the firm of MacLean & Boulware. He was named 1988 Texas War on Drugs prosecutor and served as president of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association in 1991. Boulware was named 1992 Prosecutor of the Year by the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas and was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Legal Service to the Poor in Civil Matters and served in many other capacities. Boulware served over 20 years as a trustee for Texas Wesleyan and was vice chairman of the board. He served in the Texas National Guard and was a member of First United Methodist Church of Cleburne. Among his survivors are his wife Barbara Boulware, three children and their families.
1970s
Dr. James Lewis Sr., MSEd '70, of Waco died July 3 at age 77. He was high school valedictorian at age 15 and earned degrees from Paul Quinn College, Baylor and Columbia Pacific. He served in the U.S. Army during the Cuba crisis before continuing his teaching and coaching duties at Waco ISD. After retiring from teaching, Lewis owned an Allstate Insurance agency from 1997 to 2013. His civic activities included the MCC board for 16 years, Texas Workforce Solution board, Providence Hospital Advisory board, Paul Quinn College board, Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce and others. He was a great fan of Baylor athletics, holding season tickets for football and both basketball teams for many years. Lewis was a trustee of St. Luke AME Church. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Charlene, a son, one brother and four grandchildren.
Kenneth Charles Kautz, JD '72, of Weatherford, TX, died July 31 at age 72. He served in the U.S. Army and earned an accounting degree from University of Texas at Arlington. He worked in real estate law and the title industry. Kautz was a scout master and an elder at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. His survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Deanna, and two sons.
Louis H. "Lou" Sharp, MS '72, of Springfield, VA, died June 17 at age 77. Sharp's knowledge of physics and swim stroke mechanics compelled his development of an effective strategy for training competition swimmers. He was an Indiana state swimming record holder and attended Indiana University. As a USA Masters swimmer, he won the East Coast 50-yard freestyle championship. He swam the anchor leg of a Masters American record-setting mixed gender 200 freestyle relay. His degree from Baylor was in astrophysics. Sharp worked as a contract design engineer for NASA Goddard Space Craft Center and as a project manager for the development of ALSEP meteor sensors at Union Carbide/NASA. He co-authored the computer software Swim Logic and retired as a department head from Georgetown University after 21 years as an audio-visual specialist. He owned the Competition Swim Clinic for over 40 years.
John Blake Withrow Jr., BA '73, MA '76, of DeSoto, TX, died June 13 at age 64. He earned a law degree from Southern Methodist University and established a legal practice in Dallas. He also founded Dallas Classic Cars and had many talents and interests. His survivors include his mother Gladys "Pete" Withrow and his sister Jane Withrow Patera, BSEd '75, MS '76.
Steven Wayne Allen, BS '74, of Lewisville, TX, died April 30 at age 63. He played basketball for Baylor his freshmen year and joined the A K Psi fraternity. He coached high school basketball for several years in Waco, Lewisville and Stephenville. He became an agent for State Farm, where he was in the top 50 agents out of 18,000 nationwide and was awarded a place in the distinguished Million Dollar Round Table which represents the top life insurance agents in the industry. Allen served on the Lewisville ISD board from 1986 to 1998 and sponsored numerous charity events. Among his survivors are his spouse Carolyn; his two children April Edwards, BS '99, and Austin Allen, BSEd '02; his mother Theresa Allen, and his siblings Sunni Stokeld, BSEd '80, and Grant Allen, BBA '82.
Dr. Daniel Lee Williams, BA '75, of San Marcos, TX, died April 28 at age 62. He was a pastor for 38 years in churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kentucky and Hong Kong. He held an MDiv and PhD from Southern Seminary. He was a world traveler, loved to write and play guitar music, and a skilled craftsman and oil painter. Among his survivors are his wife of 42 years, Anita, BMEd '73, three children and three siblings.
Toni Panagos Peeler, BA '77, of Houston, TX, died April 11 at age 60. She taught at-risk students for years, coached teen moms, taught ESL, weight loss classes and Bible studies. Peeler opened her home to numerous people over the years to live for free, cooked thousands of meals and provided her home as a place of rest for people going through cancer treatment from out of state. Among her survivors are her husband of 38 years, Lane Ross Peeler, BA '77, two children and two grandchildren.
Ira Michael 'Mike" Goodrich, BBA '79, JD '81, of Arlington, TX, died March 18 at age 59. He became an Eagle Scout at age 14. Goodrich earned an LLM in international tax from the University of Exeter, England. In 2013 he opened an estate planning firm, Goodrich Planning Strategies LLC. He was an entrepreneur, lawyer, accountant and financial advisor. Goodrich and his friends climbed Mount Rainier in 2014. He loved talking about life and the love of God around a campfire. Among his survivors are his wife of 33 years, Kathy Casner Goodrich, BA ’80, his mother Ernestine "Rock" Goodrich, daughters Kate and Laura, and his brother David Goodrich.
1980s
David Allan Hilburn, BBA '85, died July 15 at age 53. He held a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a JD from Louisiana State University. Hilburn spent the last years of his life serving those in prison and assisting former inmates transition back into society.
Holli Fish Lancaster, BS '86, died March 29 in Memphis, TN. She was 51. She received a master's in biology from Texas Christian University. After working as an environmental scientist in Fort Worth, TX, Holli and her husband Dan planted churches in Hamilton and Lewisville, TX. She taught anatomy and physiology as well as botany at Central Texas College and North Central Texas College. Among her most joyful accomplishments was becoming the mother of her four children. She moved to Burma with her husband and four children in 2003 as missionaries of the International Mission Board. After three years they moved to Thailand to minister to Burmese people in refugee and work camps. Her survivors include her husband Dr. Daniel Lancaster, BA '85, four children, her mother Jean Fish and siblings Steve Fish, Jeff Fish, BA '89, and Jennifer Pastoor, BA '91, MA '99.
Thomas W. Muecke Jr., BBA '88, of Friendswood, TX, died April 23 at age 52. At Baylor, he was a two-time All SWC pick at quarterback as he led the Bears to two bowl games. He was named the Houston Post SWC Most Valuable Player and was winner of the SWC/Fort Worth Kiwanis Club Sportsmanship Award. Muecke was part of two Grey Cup championships over seven seasons in the Canadian Football League. Muecke spent the last 15 years as an optometrist at Berkeley Eye Center in Clear Lake, TX. Among his survivors are his wife Alison Muecke and children MacKenzie and Garrett.
1990s
Brett Edward Dunn, BBA '91, JD '95, of San Antonio, TX, died Dec. 3, 2015, at age 47. He was an accomplished horseman. He also went to Argentina as an American Field Service exchange student. At Baylor, Dunn pledged SAE and was on the water ski team. After completing law school, he joined Clements and Spencer and later Pipkin and Oliver before starting his partnerships: Dunn Lindbergh and Dunn Smith. He also established an oil and gas business with partners in South Texas. He leaves behind two sons, parents Sara Jane and Allen Lee Dunn, BBA '64, and two siblings.
Dr. Mark Dollar, BA '91, MA '93, assistant director for Baylor's Study Abroad in the Center for Global Engagement Office, died June 1. He earned his doctorate from Purdue and spent over 20 years in professional administration and teaching. Dollar treasured his work as a professor and taught a variety of courses in global awareness, challenging his students to engage themselves in learning about other cultures. It was a dream come true to be back with his Bears. Among his survivors are his wife Liz and his children Will and Sophie.
Laura Ellen Leftwich Pulis, BS '97, of Dallas, TX, died June 11 at age 41. She made a career of interior design, working in a variety of commercial, residential and church spaces throughout Texas. She was an active member of Cliff Temple Baptist Church and RECPTA. Her survivors include her husband of 19 years, Joel Pulis, BA '95, and their daughter Grace, her parents Bill and Susan Leftwich, BA '71, and brother Greg Leftwich.
2000s
Jason Anthony Rathweg, BS '06, died July 10 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 33. Rathweg was a graduate of Klein (TX) High School, where he was a member of the soccer team. He earned a biology degree from Baylor and a master's degree in epidemiology at Texas A&M. He started a wedding photography business with his brother and spent the past six years in that business. His parents Steve and Christine Rathweg and two siblings survive him.
James "Jimmy" Schmoke Jr., '06, of Hewitt, TX, died June 29 at age 35. A graduate of Texas State Technical College's laser electro-optics program, Schmoke served as a research assistant and technician at Baylor's Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER) for 15 years. His research group had partnerships in Hungary, Moscow, and Germany. His survivors include his wife Margaret Holmes Schmoke, BA '04.
2010s
Priya Gianchandani, MSEd, '16, of Laredo, TX, died April 16, in Waco. She was nearing graduation, having studied toward a master's in educational psychology for the previous 18 months. She was beloved by her faculty and fellow students and was a member of the Indian Subcontinent Student Association.
Colton "Coho" Menk, BS '16, of Mahtomedi, MN, died May 19. Menk had graduated from Baylor days earlier with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience. He was 22. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega service fraternity organization and was involved at Richfield Christian Church as a youth minister teaching children twice a week. His survivors include his parents Roger Menk and Beth Messerly and siblings Britta and Spencer.
Colby Alexander Ramirez, BA '16, of Southlake, TX, died May 3 at age 25. He was scheduled to graduate from Baylor May 14. Ramirez majored in political science and loved politics. He worked on the campaigns of Gov. Greg Abbott, Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, Dr. Ben Carson and several Southlake City Council elections. His survivors include his parents Dr. Carlos Ramirez and Pamela J. Bolen, sister Lindzey, a Baylor senior, and brother Brock, a Baylor junior.
Jared Frame, '18, a Baylor junior, died Aug. 4 in Arizona from complications of an unexpected illness. He was 20. Frame majored in management information systems and entrepreneurship and was an active member of Waco's Harris Creek Baptist Church, where he served while at Baylor. His survivors include his parents, Becky Korenek, BSEd '84, and Darren Frame, BBA '84, MBA '85, of Scottsdale, AZ, and brother Andrew, BBA '15. His father teaches at Baylor as a clinical assistant professor of management in the Hankamer School of Business. Memorials may be made to the Jared Frame Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
Sharmayne Zipporah Adkison, '19, a sophomore journalism major from Dallas, died June 25 in DeSoto, TX. She was 29. Her survivor include her cousin Allan Marshall, BA '07.
Viola "Ola" Cromwell of Cedar Hill, TX, was born in Albany, TX, and resided in Fort Worth, TX, for most of her life. She resided in Breckenridge, CO, from her early childhood until her marriage to V.O. Smith in June 1939 upon moving to Fort Worth. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Arlington and Baylor's Old Main Society.
Charline Dauphin of Silsbee, TX, died June 3. She was 86. She was preceded in death by her husband Sidney "Chief" Dauphin. In 1969, they spent their life savings to start Texas Home Health in their two-bedroom home in Silsbee. At the time, he was a football coach at Silsbee High, and she was a substitute teacher. By the time the Dauphins sold the business in 2000, they employed 12,000 and operated 37 offices across the state, giving millions to hospitals and schools. They have been honored with their names on a cancer screening center at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital, the athletic complex at Lamar University, the Charline Dauphin Pro Locker Room at Baylor and Silsbee High School's athletic fieldhouse. She was a member of the development board at the University of Texas medical branch and the board of visitors for the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In 2002, Dauphin established a fund for two post-doctoral fellowships in epidemiology and clinical cancer prevention at M.D. Anderson. She was a Kilgore College Rangerette.
Reverend Monsignor Mark Deering of Waco died June 3 at age 94. Born in Ireland, he was ordained at St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1953. Deering was appointed to the Diocese of Austin and his first and only assignment was Waco. He served at St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church in Waco until he was appointed director and chaplain of the Regis Retirement Residence in 1963. He worked extensively with Reicher Catholic High School, where the Monsignor Mark Deering Activities Center was dedicated in 2001. He supervised the building of St. Louis Catholic Elementary School in 1963 and was then appointed the first pastor of the St. Louis Parish. Deering planned the building of St. Louis Catholic Church, and his foresight led to the formation of St. Jerome's Parish in Waco, St. Eugene's Parish in McGregor, TX, Providence Hospice, and St. Peter’s Student Center at Baylor, where he was named an honorary alumnus. He also received the W.R. White Award and was on Baylor's Sesquicentennial Council of 150. His Deering Foundation still furnishes scholarships to many students. He received his 50 years perfect attendance gold pin in 2015 from the Rotary Club. Deering's greatest gift to Waco was his endless effort to break down religious and racial prejudices. In addition to serving as president of the Waco Ministerial Alliance, he was a founding member of the Waco Conference of Christians and Jews.
Barry Robert Hopper of Waco died June 15 at age 71. He was a retired professor of trumpet in the Baylor School of Music. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Carla Hopper, two sons and three siblings, among others.
Allene Lummus of Waco died June 10 at age 83. She was a retired administrative assistant in Baylor's ministries department and former public relations office. She also worked for the Waco Tribune. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Don P. Lummus, children Don Craig Lummus, BA '79, Jeffrey Brent Lummus, BBA '81, and Lisa Williams, BS '84, MS '91, and six grandchildren.
Susan (Suzi) McCallister of Axtell, TX, died March 19 at age 66. She was administrative associate for operations and financial services in Baylor's Office of University Development. Survivors include her husband Kenny and their family.
Jo Ann McLane McClaren of Grand Prairie, TX, died April 23 at age 84. She graduated from Cameron Yoe High School in 1948 and worked at her father's wholesale grocery business, McLane Co., upon her return from Austin College. She married Sherwood "Mac" McLaren in 1953. From 1961 to 1986, the McClarens lived in Grand Prairie, TX, where Mac was an aerospace engineer until his death in 1986. Jo Ann taught Bible studies at First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie. As Mac experienced many health challenges during his young adult life, including paralysis, God gave Jo Ann the exceeding energy, loving patience and amazing grace to care for him and her two children: Bob and Janet. She also built a successful residential real estate company. Survivors include her children, siblings Kate McLane Dimmitt, BBA '56, and Drayton McLane, BBA '58, and three grandchildren.
Dorothy Shellenberger of Waco died Aug. 9 at age 98. She graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1940 and married Dr. Charles Shellenberger in 1941. They moved to Waco in 1945, and he began his pediatric practice. They were Sunday School teachers at Calvary Baptist and then Highland Baptist Church. The Shellenbergers were very involved with Baylor and began an outreach to international students who were attending the university. They later visited many of these students in their home countries. A distinguished author and speaker, she was published in Readers Digest, Guidepost and other Christian magazines. The Shellenbergers, who were married for 72 years, were awarded honorary doctorates from Dallas Baptist University. She received the Ruth Award at DBU and served on its board for nine years. After his retirement, they traveled and did mission work in Haiti and Guatemala. She was preceded in death by her husband and her grandson Lowell Layne. Her survivors include her children Sally Layne, BA '67, David Shellenberger, BA '70, Richard Shellenberger, BBA '74, and Susan West, JD '73, 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Kim Sides, assistant registrar in the Baylor's Office of the Registrar, died April 10. She was 54. Sides worked for Baylor for more than a decade. She is survived by her mother JoAnn Richards, sister Donna Jackson, sons Zachary, Maxwell and Samuel, and her former husband Rick Sides.
Goodhue Wilson Smith of Waco died May 19 at age 93. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute, University of Texas and Harvard. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the South Pacific. Goodhue's banking career spanned over 50 years at the First National Bank of Waco and the Citizens National Bank of Milam County. He chaired the United Way drive and the deacons board of the First Presbyterian Church, was president of Ridgewood Country Club and the Baylor-Waco Foundation, and was instrumental in the formation of the Waco Symphony while on the Waco Chamber of Commerce board. Among his survivors are his wife of almost 70 years, Ida Lu Spurgin, four children and their families.
James Byron Thieme of Dallas, TX, died July 26 at age 75. He earned an MBA and a teaching certificate from East Texas State University. He taught for over 20 years at Valmond Elementary School and also joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a master sergeant and company and battalion clerk for six years. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas and Baylor's 1845 and Old Main societies. Survivors include his twin brother Ben Thieme and his aunt Claudia P. O'Connor.
Bernice Ann "Bunny" Potter Underwood of Silsbee, TX, died May 17 at age 80. She attended Southwestern University in Georgetown before marrying her husband of 47 years, Al T. Underwood Jr., BBA '55. Together they had two children, Al T. Underwood III and Lisa Lyn Underwood Wagner, BSEd '81. Their family was active in the First Baptist Church of Beaumont, TX, and the family lived in Lufkin, TX, for 35 years. She volunteered as a Pink Lady in the local hospital for over 12 years. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
Frances Anderson Wiese of Calvert, TX, died April 10 at age 94. She attended Texas Christian University and married Cooper Wiese, BBA '33, in 1940. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage until his death in 2001. They were members of the Baylor Bear Foundation. Frances was a devoted housewife, mother and an involved member of the Calvert Woman's Club, Calvert PTA and the First Presbyterian Church in Calvert. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother William Conway Anderson III, and her granddaughter Karen Renee Wiese. She is survived by three children, including Cooper Allen Wiese, BBA '68, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Charles D. Beckenhauer, general counsel and chief legal officer and corporate secretary of Baylor, died July 5. He was 66. During his 23-year career at Baylor, Beckenhauer served as assistant general counsel and associate general counsel, concentrating on employment matters involving immigration law, affirmative action and employment discrimination, labor standards, Title IX compliance, litigation support and oversight, construction contracts and disputes, and study-abroad programs. He also served as an instructor in employment relations at Baylor Law School and as an adjunct professor. Before joining the general counsel's office in 1993, Beckenhauer served as deputy director of legislative and legal policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where worked on legislative, legal and policy matters relating to civilian and military personnel during the administrations of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Beckenhauer served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel. He served as a meteorologist and judge advocate general. He handled approximately 200 cases and ultimately supervised 11 attorneys with more than 300 employment cases in federal courts pending at any one time. He also spent an additional six years as a criminal prosecutor or supervising prosecutor, disposing of about 300 cases per year with about 30 going to jury trial per year. Beckenhauer earned his bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Kansas State University and his law degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. He also earned a master of laws degree in labor and employment law with highest honors from George Washington University. His survivors include his wife Jaylie Beckenhauer, daughter Chandler Kurth and other family members.
Dr. Glenn O. Hilburn of Waco, retired chair of the religion department in Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences, died June 7. He was 86. Hilburn served in the religion department more than 40 years and was as chair for 15 years. In 2000, Hilburn received the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in recognition of campus leadership and service to Omicron Delta Kappa Society (ODK), the oldest national leadership honor society in the U.S. He received the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award in 2003. He retired in 2001. Hilburn earned a bachelor's degree from Centenary College of Louisiana and a bachelor's degree and doctorate in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before Baylor, Hilburn was a research and analytical chemist and a pastor for churches in Arkansas and Texas. He joined the Baylor faculty in 1961 and was named The George W. Baines Professor of Religion. He also served as director of the Baylor Honors Program for eight years and was instrumental in obtaining a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for the university. His community involvement included serving as a school board president and as chair of the Special Olympics Committee. A respected authority in church history, Hilburn authored numerous essays in publications as the Christian Scholar's Review and the Southwestern Journal of Theology. Hilburn and his late wife Martell Hilburn were active in First Baptist Church of Waco. His survivors include his sons Kelly Hilburn and Jeff Hilburn, BSEd '82, stepson Sheridenn White, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Memorials may be made to Glenn O. and Martell B. Hilburn Endowed Graduate Research Scholarship Fund.
Francis Michael "F.M." Young of Waco died May 1 at age 86. As the chair of the board and the president of Young Construction Inc., he led it to become one of the top five highway contractors in Texas. Young served as the president of the Texas Highway Heavy Branch of the Association of General Contractors (AGC) and the National Board of the AGC, and was honored with lifetime board membership for both and represented Texas on the board of the National Asphalt Paving Association. He served on the board of the Waco Boys Club and the Waco Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the board of the Baylor-Waco Foundation and Texas State Technical College Development Foundation. With his brothers, Young donated the East Terrace house to the Historic Waco Foundation. He also designed and built the Brazos Queen II and was co-owner of the Water Works restaurant. He developed housing developments and a golf course. He was a generous benefactor for Reicher Catholic High School, St. Louis School and the Waco Mammoth site. He also quietly supported many endeavors from the Robinson (TX) Little League to donating numerous church parking lots. He donated a wing to Providence Hospital. The City of Waco declared Feb. 16, 2016, as Gloria and F.M. Young Day. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Gloria, four children, including Susan Abplanalp, JD’95, eight grandchildren and two sisters.
Dr. Elmer H. "Bud" Duncan of Waco died May 10 at age 82. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in Europe and married Rosemary Hack in 1956. Duncan earned his BA, MA and PhD at the University of Cincinnati. He began teaching in Baylor's Department of Philosophy in 1962. For 12 years the Duncans were sponsors for the Alpha Tau Delta social and service club of the now Louise Herrington School of Nursing. From 1984 to 1998, Duncan served as chief marshal at all Baylor commencements. He served on many university committees, including chairing the Honors Program and the University Libraries committees. Duncan held various positions in the Southwestern Philosophical Society, including president. He was assistant editor for bibliography for the Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism and contributing editor for Leonardo. Duncan authored two books and edited several others. He was designated an Outstanding Faculty Member by the university in 1984, and he was given an Outstanding Faculty Service Award by the Baylor Faculty Senate in 1994. Duncan officially retired in 2005, but he continued to teach his course in the Philosophy of Art until age 75.
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