Weldon Aubrey "Sno" Vincent was born on January 11, 1935 in Creole, La., to Durphy Vincent and Ruby Belle Trahan Vincent. He grew up in Creole and Cameron, La., and graduated from Creole High School in 1953, and attended McNeese State University, where he graduated with a B.A. in Education in 1958, and later earned his Masters of Education + 30 in 1972. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960.
Sno was voted Best All-Around Athlete in his senior year of high school, and he carried his love of sports through the rest of his life. Basketball was his great love, and he began his career as a basketball coach first at Johnson Bayou High School, and then at Grand Lake High School, where he coached the men’s basketball and track teams, as well as serving as assistant principal and briefly as principal, until he retired from teaching in 1973. He enjoyed nothing better than watching his grandkids compete in wrestling, basketball, and volleyball, and showing livestock. He was the SLWA Knights basketball team’s biggest fan.
Sno left teaching to open the Cameron Outdoor Shop, which he ran with his partner, Don Criglow, until 1979.
Sno worked as a contractor in the oilfield until he retired from his company, Base Operators, Inc. in 1999. He opened Production Filters with Coach “June” Vidrine. Not being one to sit around the house, after retirement he joined his son, Charles, in opening Santa Rita Honey Bee Farm. Known as “the Honey Bee Man,” Sno spent many hours at the Cash and Carry Market in Lake Charles, and at the Horse Farm in Lafayette, visiting with his many customers while his wife, Pat, sold the honey. He loved capturing swarms of bees, even though he got stung himself.
He loved people, and never met a stranger. He could tell you the history and family tree of everybody he knew in Cameron Parish. He loved to laugh, and hearing and telling funny stories was one of his favorite things. He was always ready to pull a practical joke on family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Durphy and Ruby, and by an infant son, Steven. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Patricia Falgoust Vincent; children Carla (and Dan) Dugas of Las Cruces, N.M.; Darla Vincent of Natchez, MS.; Charles (and Ann) Vincent of Lake Charles, La.; Susan Vincent of Crescent Hill, OR.; and Michael Vincent of Baton Rouge, La.; and eight grandchildren: Jacqueline, Caitlin, Evan, Joseph, Jacob, Joshua, Jessie, and Jenna; brother, Ernest (Valerie) Vincent of Grand Lake; brother, Stephen Vincent of Cameron, LA; step-mother, Mildred Vincent of Cameron, LA; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2018 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Reverend Anthony Fontenot, V.F. will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland MemoryGardens. Visitation will be held from 4 – 9 p.m. Thursday at Hixson Funeral HomeofLake Charles with a Rosary at 6 p.m. and will resume Friday at 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
A gathering to celebrate his life will be held following services at Christ the King Catholic Church Hall. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.
