Elvin Haynes

Elvin was born on a farm near Avoca, Arkansas, on February 1, 1935, the first boy and second oldest of eight children born to Arthur Monroe Haynes and Mary Grace (Snyder) Haynes.

Elvin’s childhood was challenging, but with the support and guidance of a scoutmaster, a Methodist minister, and a high school counselor, he became the first of his extended family to attend college. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from New York University.

Elvin was recruited off campus at Arizona State by Shell Oil Company and began a 35-year career in Human Resource Management in its Los Angeles office. Following assignments in Bakersfield and Ventura, he returned to Los Angeles in 1967 for a head office assignment in labor relations.

In 1968, Elvin and his family moved to New York and then to Houston in 1970. For 17 years he was a member of Shell’s head office management and organization development group in Houston. He retired as head office manager, pensioner relations in 1991.

While attending New York University, Elvin became interested in writing and eventually published 36 articles, 21 book reviews, and 10 books. English language editions of his books sold over 850,000 copies. And, his books have been translated into 14 different languages and marketed throughout the world.

Elvin was appointed adjunct professor at the University of Houston’s College of Continuing Education. He also served as an instructor for the hospitality industry’s executive course, presented each year by the University’s Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. For several years, he presented public workshops at universities throughout the South-Central U.S.

Always interested in public service, Elvin served four years on the board of directors of Sheltering Arms, a social service agency for the elderly in Houston, Texas. During this time, he chaired the agency’s personnel committee and served on its executive committee.

He was a member of the board of directors of the International Society for Retirement Planning for eight years, serving as president from 1991 to 1993. He also chaired the editorial board for the society’s journal and served on its newsletter board.

Following retirement, Elvin and his wife Janice moved to Springdale, Arkansas, where they lived from 1991 to 2003. While living there, Elvin was active in the Chamber of Commerce and served on Springdale’s Downtown Enhancement Project Board and was appointed by the mayor to the Library Board and Library Foundation Board. He and Janice were active in the Methodist Church and sang with the Arts Center of the Ozarks Chorale.

In 2003, Elvin and Janice moved to Kerrville, Texas, where they lived from 2003 to 2020. They continued to be active in the Methodist Church. They both sang in the church choir and he taught Sunday school. He was also active in the United Methodist Men, serving as the chairman of the planning committee for their annual scholarship golf tournament (proceeds going to "Children's Ark").

Elvin was also a member of the "Friends in Harmony" Barbershop chorus, based out of San Antonio.

Elvin joined the Methodist Church in 1951 and throughout his life was active in a variety of leadership and administrative roles. He sang in many choirs and taught in many adult Sunday school classes.

Elvin loved singing, playing guitar, reading, writing, playing bridge, researching his ancestry, traveling and leading group activities.

Since 2020, he lived with Janice in Bryan and then College Station, Texas, where he continued to pursue these interests until his passing.

Elvin is survived by his wife, Janice Elaine (Beebe) Haynes; his son Curtis Jerome Haynes and his wife Amy, of Sacramento, California; his daughter Sharman Lynn Haynes of Austin, Texas; and his daughter Sara Marie Dvoracek and her husband John, of College Station, Texas.

He is also survived by brothers Leslie Haynes and Kenneth Haynes, sister Linda Sue Stults, and several nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Patrick Dvoracek, Rachel Dvoracek, Alexis Griffin and her husband, Sean; and Carlos Haynes and his wife, Kara. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Coen Haynes, Lydia Haynes, Malcom Griffin and Audrey Griffin.

Elvin was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Shirley Ann (York), his brothers Roy, Ray and Melvin, and sister Pearl.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, 4201 Texas 6 Frontage Rd., College Station, Texas, at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, January 18. A livestream of the service can be viewed on January 18th at https://youtu.be/eFcgTeWxJ34.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to College of the Ozarks, https://www.cofo.edu/donate, and/or the American Cancer Society, https://donate3.cancer.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialfuneralchapel.com for the Haynes family.