David Batson

David Templeton Batson passed away November 20, 2016 in Austin, Texas. Born Feb. 21, 1928 to Dorris (Warr) and David T. Batson in Center, Texas, he grew up in Longview, graduating from Longview High School in 1945.

His college career included studies at University of Houston, University of Mexico City and University of Illinois, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and ultimately his Master's Degree from Stephen F. Austin University.

He served as Marine Corp Captain in the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in April 1964.

He was working on his graduate degree as an adjunct professor in Houston when he met his future wife, Mary McLeod. The couple married in 1958 and moved to Virginia, where he began his commercial art career at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. They moved to Orange County, California, when he accepted a technical illustration position at Food Machinery Corp., where their daughter Cassia was born in 1961, followed by Melinda in 1963.

In 1966, the family returned to East Texas when David accepted an art teaching position for the Longview school district. Their son, John David, was born in 1972. David taught for many years throughout the state of Texas before retiring in 1987.

Aside from his love of the arts, David was an avid hunter, fisherman, and craftsman. He designed and built canoes, boats, furniture, pottery, sculpture. He was infamous, within his circle of friends and family, for his ability to re-purpose random materials towards his design objectives. His appreciation of the beauty of nature was inspiring. Also, having traveled extensively in the states and abroad, he developed a passion for international cuisine and culture. His students benefited from this enthusiasm as did his children, for which they will be forever grateful.

David is survived by his children: daughter Cassia and husband Thom Ward, daughter Melinda and husband Bob Miller, and son John and his wife Saundra, as well as three grandchildren: Jamie Vasquez, and Jake and Emily Batson.

Memorial services in his honor are pending.