Akin A Vanderslice's Obituary
Akin A. Vanderslice
Services for Akin A. Vanderslice, 87, of Longview will be held at First Lutheran Church of Longview at noon on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 with Pastor Jeffrey E. Borgwardt officiating. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park. The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. prior to the service. Mr. Vanderslice passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2013 in Longview.
Mr. Vanderslice was born in Cooley, Texas to Columbus Washington and Ethel Mae Vanderslice on February 6, 1926. He was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church of Longview. Mr. Vanderslice volunteered to serve our country at a very young age. He became a member of the Army Air Corp during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater. Following his return from the war, he attended Magnolia State University, now Southeastern Arkansas University, where he played basketball for the Muleriders. He was called back to active duty and served during the Korean War. He was retired from the Department of Justice working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for many years in both Ohio and Florida at federal penitentiaries. While in Florida, Mr. Vanderslice owned and operated Live Oak Stables alongside his stepson Roger Knapp. Upon retirement, he moved to Texas to be closer to his family with whom he loved to spend time. He loved to play golf with his friends at Wood Hollow Golf Course, but not on the weekend because "weekends were for the amateurs." He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife Maxine Vanderslice; brother Macarthur Vanderslice and sister Ruth Baber.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Vanderslice of Longview; daughter and son-in-law Barbara and David Puckett of White Oak; step-son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Beverly Knapp of Longview; three granddaughters, Katie and Allie Puckett of White Oak, Michelle Hairford of Chapel Hill; two great grandsons Nicholas and Colton Hairford of Chapel Hill; two brothers and sisters-in-law, C.W. and Jean Vanderslice, Jr. of Texarkana, Kenneth and Pat Vanderslice of McKinney; three sisters and brother-in-law Jeannette Phillips of Wake Village, TX, Carolyn Lane of Benton, LA, Joyce and Al Mitchell of Texarkana, TX; sister-in-law Shirley Vanderslice of North Little Rock, AK; extended family Carol and Phil Fenton, Aaron, Ben, Liz; Susan and Larry Birdwell, Sarah; Alexis and Jeff McCarty, Maurine, Lauren. Akin's precious grandchildren lovingly called him "Papa Akin" or "Popie." Mr. Vanderslice will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity or First Lutheran Church Longview.
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