Richard Gray Avent's Obituary
Richard Gray Avent, entrepreneur, educator, and lawyer, died Monday, July 21, 2008 at age 90 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was born to Col. Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent in Palestine, Texas on April 2, 1918. dick spent his formative years as an army brat. He graduated from high school in Greenville, south Carolina and attended Clemson University. He moved to Austin, Texas in 1940 to attend the University of Texas School of Law. World War II intervened and Dick enlisted in the Army-Ari Corp on December 8, 1941 and became a Counter-Intelligence Officer in the European Theater. He often worked behind enemy lines in occupied France and enjoyed living on the edge in that part of his life. His experiences in 1945 documenting atrocities at two Nazi concentration camps stuck with him the rest of his life. Dick returned to Austin and finished law school in 1948. While in Austin, dick served as Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, was president of the Young Lawyers, active with the State Bar of Texas, and admitted to the United States District Courts for the Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Apeals in New Orleans, and the United States Supreme Court. Dick's real love, however, was real estate and he was a sub-divider and builder in Austin. In 1951, he met his future bride, Frances Ava Roddy. They married and lived in Austin, Texas until 1966.
After 20 years of building and subdividing in Austin, dick became interested in teaching on a Collegiate Level, obtained his Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and moved his family to Kilgore to join the faculty at Kilgore College. he taught Criminal Law and Psychology. In 1969, he opened Learning Foundations, a Longview tutoring center. He managed real estate investments in later years.
dick was a lifetime Episcopalian and served on the Church vestry in Kilgore and later in Longview at Trinity Episcopal Church. In his younger days, Dick was a scratch golfer. At age 13, he won a local tournament at Augusta Country Club in Greenville, south Carolina and was honored to play a round of golf with golf legend Bobby Jones. Dick Avent was a Life Member of the Texas Ex-Students Association, a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a Master Mason, Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.
He leaves as a legacy his love of life and family and dry sense of humor. Dick and his wife Frances traveled the world.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent, brother, Hugh Avent, Jr. and sister, Dr. Henrietta Avent. He is survived by his wife, Frances Avent, and sisters, Frances Grove and Mason Hunter. He is also survived by a son and daughter, Robert Aventand his wife, Vy; Ava Avent Welge anad her husband, Jack, and grandchildren, Kirsten Welge, Kathleen Welge, William Billy Avent, and Scott Avent and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Memorial services will be held 10 AM Saturday, July 26, 2008 at Trinty Episcopal Church, Longview, Texas with the Reverend Kevin Wittmayer offciating under direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM on Friday, July 25, 2008 at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd., Longview, Texas.
Memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
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