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In MemoriamWalter P. Morton - Rotarian ExtraordinaryWalter P. Morton, known as "Walt" to members of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, passed away October 31, 2003. He was a strong supporter of our club and Rotary International. He was 84 years old.  He was a Rotarian for almost 40 years, joining Rotary in Jan. 1964. He had perfect attendance until his death on Oct. 31, 2003. Walter served on practically every club committee in all Four Avenues of Service and was President of the club in 1981/1982.
He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor, which means his bequest will stay in the Rotary Foundation Permanent ......Fund to help World Understanding and Peace in the years to come. Walter’s daughter, Natalie Matthews, joined the club in the year 2000. They were the first Father/Daughter members in our club and she was recently elected as President Elect. She will serve as President in 2004/2005. We will miss Walter, but his legacy will live on. In MemoriamFarewell: Jack Connor, ‘Devout Rotarian’ Jack Connor, one of Abilene Southwest Rotary Club’s former presidents and a strong supporter of the Rotary Foundation, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004. He was 83.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) John E. ‘Jack’ Connor, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, was a command pilot who flew combat in fighters during World War Two in the 9th Air Force, and then in the Korean War (41 decorations).
During his war service, Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier’s Medal, 15 air medals, the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Fourragere, two Air Force Commendation medals, nine battle stars, and two Presidential Unit citations.Jack was a native of Detroit, Michigan, moving with his parents at a young age to Shorewood, Wisconsin. He entered the service of the 126th Observation Squadron, National Guard, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1940.He and his wife, Harriet, came to Dyess Air Force Base in August 1961.Jack was an elder in the First Central Presbyterian Church, a Mason, a Shriner and had served as a director of the Abilene Civic Center Board and the Philharmonic Association.Three members of Abilene Southwest Rotary were pallbearers: Jim Aneff, Joe Roeder and George Kaerwer, all past presidents.Before his death, Jack and Harriet received the Major Donor Recognition Award from Rotary International. Back in June Jack received his Three Ruby pin, qualifying for the donor recognition as he and Harriet had given a total of $10,000 together to the Rotary Foundation.Jack will be remembered by Abilene Southwest Rotarians as a strong supporter of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars program, helping to guide a number of outstanding young people to successful selection by our Rotary District selection committee.“He was a real believer in the mission and work of the Rotary Foundation,” said Will Speight, executive secretary. “Jack was a devout Rotarian and led the way for our club in having 109 Paul Harris Fellow credits. He was also responsible for the enviable record our club enjoyed for selecting and winning 12 of 14 Ambassadorial Scholarships.” Besides Harriet, he is survived by two daughters and two sons; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.---Charles RichardsonIn Memoriam‘Miss Emma’ Was Special!  Miss Emma Joyner, 91, former pianist for the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club and Abilene Rotary Club, passed away on Jan. 29, 2004 in an Abilene hospital.
Miss Emma was special in so many ways. Our club named her a Paul Harris Fellow in 1982 for her long years of service as pianist as well as her service in the community. She received many honors through the years: in 1973 she was named one of the five “Sweethearts of the City” by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce; in 1975, she was the winner of the DIANA (Distinguished Award for Noble Achievement) given annually by the Gamma Eta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Society, nominated by the Abilene Rotary Club; in 1978, she was honored by her congregation, First Baptist Church of Abilene with “Emma Joyner Day” where she had served under five pastors (six before she retired). The Wellington, Texas native, taught in the public schools for 12 years before moving to Sweetwater’s First Baptist Church as secretary/pianist. Emma, a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, came to Abilene’s First Baptist Church in 1947, serving as secretary for 30 years and as pianist for 47 years. She was a member of the HSU Ex-Cowgirls’ Association and had served as vice president of the HSU Alumni Association. Members of our club and other Rotary clubs in the city as well as deacons of First Baptist Church, were honorary pallbearers at her funeral. Two Rotarians, who are both deacons at First Baptist Church, Julian Bridges and Claude Hicks, a past Rotary district governor, were among the pallbearers at the funeral. Emma was special in so many ways as she exercised in a remarkable way, “service above self.”---Charles Richardson, editor, The Wheel.
In Memoriam: 
Lowell W. Queen, a past president and charter member of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, died May 30th after suffering a stroke on May 13th. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and strong supporter of the Rotary Foundation. Lowell was an honored member of our club, serving in various ways and as president during the 1982-83 Rotary year. Because of his musical abilities and interest, he often led the club in music during our meetings. Lowell as just few days shy of his 91st birthday when he passed away. Rotarians and their spouses sat as a group at his memorial service at First Baptist Church, where he was a past chair of the deacon body, a deacon emeritus, former member of the church choir and active member. The Ozan, Arkansas native began a career in 1949 as a financial advisor with American Express Financial Advisors (formerly IDS) in San Angelo. He moved with his family to Abilene in 1956 and retired in November 1997 as 48 ½ years as a financial advisor. He was a graduate of DeQueen, Arkansas High School and Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was active in a number of community organizations. He owned and operated as a hobby, Pet Haven Cemetery. He and his late wife, Mildred, sponsored the annual Kelley College of Business Awards program and dinner at Hardin-Simmons University. His widow, Sara, son, Dr. James L. Queen of San Angelo, a sister, and five grandsons, are among survivors. His first wife, Mildred, and a daughter, Joy Russell, preceded him in death.---Charles Richardson, whom Lowell sponsored into Abilene Southwest Rotary Club membership in 1982.
In Memoriam 
Karl Karrenbrock: Active Rotarian, Leader
Karl Karrenbrock, 74, a past president and member of Abilene Southwest Rotary Club since 1977, passed away in Abilene on Feb. 22, 2005.
He was a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, serving 30 years in numerous places around the world, including Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, where he took official retirement.
At the time of his official retirement from the Air Force, Karl was Director of Personnel. While at Dyess, he attended and graduated from McMurry University in 1979.
In civilian life, Karl served as vice president for personnel at First State Bank and general manager of the Dyess Federal Credit Union. He also served as substitute teacher for the Abilene Independent School District.
He was a Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of the Lowell Queen Award from the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club.
Karl was active in the community, serving on numerous boards, including the Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Boys and Girls Club, Abilene Day Care, JESEC, Dyess Federal Credit Union, Abilene Adult Literacy Council and the Abilene Association of Congregations.
He was an active member of Abilene's Brookhollow Christian Church, where he served as an elder, Sunday School teacher, and a leader in the Disciples of Christ denomination.
Surviving are his wife, Jeanette of Abilene; four daughters and a son; a sister and a brother; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Submitted by ---Charles Richardson
Dr. William (Bill) Neil Dixon  Dr. William (Bill) Neil Dixon, 79, a member of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club since 1998 and a Rotarian beginning in 1961 as a part of the White Rock Rotary Club, Dallas, passed away on June 6, 2006 in Abilene. His funeral service was held on Friday, June 9 at the Pioneer Dr. Baptist Church, where he was a member, with the Rev. Stan Allcorn, pastor, officiating. Bill, as he was known to Rotarians, moved to Abilene in 1994. He was in private dental practice in Dallas for over 40 years before his retirement. " He loved Rotary and all it stands for," said Will Speight, executive-secretary of the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club. He was born April 17, 1927 in Amarillo to Kenneth David and Frankie Mae Paxton Dixon. Following graduation from Amarillo High School, he joined the Navy and was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He later transferred to the University of Texas, Austin, where he received his bachelor's degree and then graduated from Baylor Dental School, earning a doctor of dental surgery degree. Among survivors are his widow, Imogene, whom he married on April 8, 1950; five sons; seven grandsons and two granddaughters and three great-granddaughters.---Charles Richardson Thomas G. “Tom” Edwards Thomas G.”Tom” Edwards, 75, who served as president of Abilene Southwest Rotary Club from 1988 to 1989 and was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, passed away on Sunday, Dec., 23, 2007 at a local nursing facility. He joined Abilene Southwest Rotary Club in Dec.1982 and had a 25-year perfect attendance record. He served on many club committees and was a past member of the Board of Directors. Tom’s funeral was held on Wednesday, Dec.26 at the Brook Hollow Christian Church, with fellow Rotarian Ross E. Bennett, pastor, officiating. He was a native of Galveston, a graduate of Mercedes, TX High School and a 1953 graduate of Rice University, Houston. Before retirement, Tom was an engineer with Tippett and Gee in Abilene for 30 years. After retirement, he also worked for Lauren Engineering. He was a veteran of U.S. Navy service. Among survivors are his widow, Peggy (Lindley) Edwards of Abilene, two sons, three daughters, a brother; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriett Minter Edwards; two daughters, Elizabeth Edwards and Laura Edwards and his parents, Doris (Finney) and Thomas G. Edwards Sr.—- Charles R. RichardsonBill Van Cleave, 25-Year Plus Member, Dies in Abilene on March 15th William F. "Bill" Van Cleave, an Abilene Southwest Rotary Club member for more than 25 years, died in Abilene on Saturday, March 15. Funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, March 18th at the Westgate Church of Christ, where he had been an elder for 32 years. Bill was a Paul Harris Fellow for Rotary International and an active member of Abilene Southwest Rotary Club. Bill was born Sept. 8, 1922 in View, TX and graduated from Wylie High School and attended Tarleton State University, Stephenville. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army's 3rd Division in Europe. He was the recipient of two Purple Hearts and other medals. He was the owner of Van Cleave Optical for 55 years. He was the past president of the Contact Lens Society and Certified Opticians Association of Texas. He was also the recipient of the Torch Award from the Abilene Better Business Bureau and the Small Business Salute from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. Among survivors are his widow, Deloris; two sons; nine grandchildren; two great-grandsons, one step daughter; two step sons; three step-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Beth Marie Clark, his parents and all of his siblings.----Charles R. Richardson
Last Updated:05/09/2008
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