Walter Ray Womack Sr.

Services for W.R. Womack, Sr. of Tyler are scheduled for July 10, 2011 at 2:00pm at West Erwin Church of Christ, 420 W Erwin St., Tyler, Texas, with Mike Gravois officiating. Burial will follow at the Cathedral in the Pines, 7825 S. Broadway Avenue, in Tyler, under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Mr Womack passed from this life on July 7, 2011. He was born on February 7, 1923, the youngest of seven children, in Dallas, Texas to Robert Green Womack and Amanda Maude Womack.

He graduated from Forest Avenue High School in Dallas in 1941 and enrolled in North Texas State Teachers' College with a track scholarship. In 1942 he enlisted in the V-12 program and was sent to Louisiana PolyTech where he transferred to the Navy Midshipman School in Chicago. Following a hospital stay, he was discharged from the Navy and joined the Marine Corps serving 9 months in Hawaii.

Returning to North Texas Campus, in 1946, he lettered in Track & Field, specializing in high and low hurdles and sprint relays. There he met Carolyn Davis from Dallas and married in 1947. After earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Parks & Recreation, he completed his Masters in Public School Administration. He was first employed as the Supervisor of Municipal Athletics for the Parks & Recreation Department of the city of Dallas. In 1950 he began his career in education, teaching 5 years in Dallas ISD, 9 years in Pittsburg, 2 years as elementary principal and high school counselor. While in Pittsburg he was a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and member and president of the Board of Directors for Deer Run Christian Camp in Winnsboro, Texas.

In 1964 he purchased Tyler Commercial College which he operated until 1969. He was a member of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce and for several years was the Director of Workreation affiliated with the Parks & Recreation Department that employed students under 16 years of age. As part of this program he played Santa in numerous parades and in the Santa Hut on the Tyler Square.

Mr. Womack returned to public school education in 1969 as TISD's first Vocational Counselor serving until retirement in 1984.

In 1998 Mr. Womack was honored by Forest Avenue High School in Dallas as a Distinguished Alumni and in 2000 was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame. Since retirement he has been active in Texas Retired Teachers Association and volunteered for Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He has been a member of West Erwin church of Christ since 1964 serving as a deacon, Bible teacher, delivering food for shut-ins and presiding as president off & on for many years for the "Young at Heart" senior citizen group at the church.

Mr. Womack was preceded in death by a son, Robert Andrew Womack.

Mr. Womack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Womack: Sons, Skip Womack & wife, Lynda of Tyler, David Womack & wife, Susan of Chandler, Kevin Womack & wife, Kelly Jo of Longview; Daughters, Candace Montgomery & husband, Alan of Tyler, Holly Shupe & husband, Kim of Gilbert, Arizona, Meredith Burke & husband, Bill of Tyler, and Kelly Finley & husband, Brett of Tomball, Texas; Grandchildren: Shelton Womack, Craig Womack, Leigh Womack, Rachel Kirkwood, Gina Jerkins, Chris Montgomery, Austin Shupe, Leslee Mayers, Kaleb Womack, Lyndsey Womack, Rebecca Burke, & Daniel Burke; and 6 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jack Stringer, Art Rowland, Kenneth Muncy, Bill Hawkins, Carroll Magee, Joe Willis, faithful drivers for delivering for the "Lunch Bunch Group," Stan Clark and Jim Gullion.

Visitation is scheduled from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, on July 9, 2011 at Lloyd James Funeral Home, 1011 E First Street, Tyler, Texas.

The family extends a special thanks to Mary Nell Kirk, Home-Aide Caregivers and to the team from Hospice of East Texas and special friend, Wade Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas or to the children's library at West Erwin Church of Christ.