Dow Wynn II, 87, of Montgomery, Texas passed away peacefully Saturday, November 7, 2009, at home surrounded by his loving family.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Audrey David Wynn, sister, Gwen Knowles of Nederland, daughters Virginia Huey of Montgomery, Jan Wynn of Beaumont, and sons Dow Wynn III of Tyler and J R Spears of Shiro, Tx. He was preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Weinbaum.
Among his many blessings are his grandchildren, Todd Frels, Jason Frels, Luke Frels, Travis Frels, Dow Wynn IV, John Howard Wynn, Katelynn Wynn, Mark Wynn Dengler, John R. Wynn, Veronica Thompson and Ronald Hanson and a host of great-grandchildren. Although a native of Dallas, Dow lived and attended school in Nederland from 1932 until graduation from high school in 1939. He served on the school newspaper and the track team. He attended Texas A & M (class of 1943), majoring in architectural design. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Southwest Pacific Theater ending active service in 1946. Dow proudly served an additional 22 years in the Army Reserves, retiring in 1968 as Colonel of the 353rd Transportation Battalion. From 1946 until 1964, Dow worked for the Veterans Administration, the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Port Director for the ports of Houston, Freeport and Beaumont. In 1964, Dow became the Founding Port Director for the Port of Port Arthur where he was instrumental in the design and construction of the present day port facilities and Seaman’s Center.
Dow once again served his Lord and fellow man in 1976-1978 when he organized and successfully served in the Port Arthur relocation program for the many Vietnamese people who supported the United States in Viet Nam who had to flee to our country for employment and critical care for these people. He and Audrey personally sponsored six young men. Many remain his dear friends to this day. He received the Sertoma Man of the Year award for this outstanding service to mankind. In 1979, Dow was ordained as one of the first of five ordained Permanent Deacons in the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont. He served joyfully until retirement in 1998 at the Parish of St. Jude Catholic Church in Beaumont. He loved baptizing the babies and ministering to the ill in hospitals.
Dow offered love, hope and faith to all he served; his family, friends and countrymen will miss him dearly and know that he is at peace and watching over us.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Saturday, November 14, 2009 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Nederland, with interment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves under the direction of Broussard’s in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4 to 7 PM Friday with a Christian Vigil to be held at 6:00 PM at the mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue, Nederland, Texas 77627.
