Dolton Ray Colwell's Obituary
Dolton Ray Colwell
Services for Dolton Ray Colwell, 81, of Longview are set for 4 PM Thursday, June 23rd at the First Christian Church, Longview, with Dr. Jim Lewis, Rev. Phil Jones, and Adrian Coleman officiating. Masonic rites will be conducted following the service. Burial, under the direction of Rader Funeral Home, will be at Gum Springs Cemetery. Mr. Colwell died Monday, June 20th in Longview.
Ray was born August 4, 1923 in the Fendley Community of Clark County, Arkansas to Henry and Tennie Colwell. Ray?s mother, Tennie, passed away in 1939 and his father subsequently married Dewey Carr Colwell in 1941.
In 1939, Ray left Arkansas to serve in the Civilian Conservation Corps primarily in Dunsth, North Dakota to build the International Peace Garden between the United States and Canada. In 1941, Ray returned to Longview where he met his future wife of 59 years, Vida Myrle Barker at the Duke and Ayers 5 to 10 Store.
Ray joined the Army Air Corps on December 7, 1942. During World II he served in the 9th Air Force in England, participated in the invasion of Normandy and served in the European Theater. After the war ended, he returned again to Longview, married Vida Myrle and raised his family.
In 1984 he retired from Eastman Kodak after 32 years of service. After retirement, Ray and Vida traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada visiting all 50 states and 5 Canadian provinces, most on several occasions.
Ray was raised a Master Mason in April of 1947 and was an active member of the Sharon Shrine Temple, Scottish Rite of Waco and the York Rite. He was honored by the Shrine in 2000 with the Samsire and by the Masonic Lodge in 2003 with the Golden Trowel Award. He was a volunteer for eight years at Good Shepherd Medical Center and the related Medical Plaza Complex, Special Olympics and other benevolent causes. He was an active member of the First Christian Church and the Cornerstone Sunday School Class.
He is survived by his loving wife Vida Myrle; sons Mike Colwell and wife Lee Ann of Longview, Jerry Colwell and wife Patti of Fort Worth; grandchildren: Ryan Colwell and Kayla Jones of Longview, Steve Colwell of Fort Worth, and Kelly Colwell of Austin; Sisters-in-law, Estelle Colwell, Bonnie and Shelton Caine, Sally and Bill Dyer, Ruth Carr and Rachel Carr; niece, Patsy Machin and husband, Art and special cousins Vernell and Olen Holder and Jerry and Shirley Francis.
Ray was preceded in death by his mother Tennie and
father Henry Colwell, step-mother, Dewey Carr Colwell, grandson, Caleb Jones, a brother, Gus Colwell, and sister, Effie Howell Clingan.
Pallbearers are: Steve Colwell, Ryan Colwell, Bill Christy, Jerry Francis, Rusty Roberts, and Lloyd ?Pee Wee? Forsythe. Honorary pallbearers are: Roy Dorsey, Bill Thomas, Mason Armstrong, Olen Holder, Bill Moorman, the men of the Cornerstone Class and fellow co-workers from Texas Eastman.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Christian Church Building Fund, Good Shepherd Medical Center Auxiliary or to a favorite charity.
The family would like to offer thanks to all the friends, neighbors, members of the First Christian Church, the Masonic Lodge, and Hearts Way Hospice for their support, thoughts, and prayers.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 PM.
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