Wilbur Roy Aten

The son of William Roy and Rebecca May Aten, Will was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Iola, Kansas. His childhood years were spent in Hawthorne, Calif., and Gentry, Ark. He studied at Oklahoma City University and graduated from Midwest Christian College with a BA Ministerial Degree, 1954. His graduate studies were at The Graduate Seminary, Phillips University and South Dakota State University. He was ordained to the Christian ministry in June 1954 in Oklahoma City. Then, on April 8, 1955, he married Lois Earle Hamilton in Shattuck, Okla.

He pastored churches in Peabody, Kansas; Pierre, S.D.; and Borger, Texas, before ministry brought him to Brownsville in 1967. Here, he pastored Central Christian Church; was executive chaplain at the International Seamen's Center at the Port of Brownsville; and pastored Rio Hondo Community Church where he served 25 years until his retirement in 2010. He preached his last Sunday sermon at the age of 78.

Over his lifetime, in addition to his full-time vocation, Will volunteered and served in a multitude of civic, political and evangelical endeavors. He founded and co-founded multiple ministries throughout the nation. Of local note, he co-founded Christian Heritage Ministries (which operates Valley Christian High School in Brownsville where he served as secretary and teacher). He also co-founded the International Seamen's Center at the Port of Brownsville. Both of these ministries carry his legacy as they continue to provide quality Christian education for many of Brownsville's youth and provide true Christian charity and service to seafarers from around the world who visit Brownsville's port. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and he lived his life serving God and people.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois Aten; and two brothers, Paul and Frank.

He leaves four sons, Mark of Los Fresnos; Scott and his wife, Lisa, of Cleburne, Texas; Lane and his wife, Mary, of Brownsville; and Todd and his wife, Leigh, of Brownsville; two granddaughters, Lindsay Washburn and her husband, Bill, of Fort Worth, and Kelsay Aten of Cleburne; one great-grandson, Kanyn Washburn of Fort Worth; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is loved by many. His friends, congregations and the seafarers from around the world will miss him greatly.

Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Buena Vista Funeral Home, 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 4, at 5 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 1100 E. Alton Gloor Blvd., Brownsville.

Honorary pallbearers will be Manuel Salinas, Paul Benjamin, Andreas Lewis, James Gale, Patrick Senior and Ralph Wellington.

In lieu of flowers, please honor his life and memory with contributions to the International Seamen's Center, P.O. Box 4033, Brownsville, TX 78523-4033.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Buena Vista Funeral Home 125 McDavitt Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78521; phone (956) 541-5400