Reverend Avery Oswalt, 88, of Vidor, died Friday, June 17, 2016. He was born on July 25, 1927, in Center, to Jewel Dockens Oswalt and Avery Parm Oswalt, and had been a longtime resident of Vidor. Avery was a sixty-five year member and retired pipefitter with Local #82, Tacoma, Washington. He was a retired pastor, Avery pastored in Fred, Texas and Winnie, Texas, and twenty years in Tacoma, Washington.

He is survived by his sons, Norman Oswalt and his wife, Ida Jane, of Huntington; Gurvis Oswalt and his wife, Sharon, of Vidor; and Melvin Oswalt and his wife, Jackie, of Fannett; grandchildren, Lequitta Brister, of Fannett, Trelayne Hicks, of Groves, Sonya Rico, of Vidor, Christy Simpson, of Graham, Washington, Shannon Cherry, of Kilgore, Gurvis Oswalt, of Pearland, and Tammy Knowles, of Graham, Washington; thirteen great-grandchildren; brothers, David Oswalt, of Conroe and Joe Emmet Oswalt, of Sherman;  sister, Darlene Westberg, of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

Avery is preceded in death by his wife, Joy Oswalt; and sisters, Lurlean Miller and Hortense Fleming.

A gathering of Reverend Oswalt’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2016, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Broussard’s, with a graveside service following at 3:30 p.m. at Strong Cemetery, Shelbyville.