George Wayne Vinson, 91, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on August 22, 2024.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo with Eddie Hankins, Milton Miller and Tommy Key officiating. A private family burial will be held on Monday, August 26 at Washita Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.
He was born on April 16, 1933, in Wheeler to Eargle H. and Margaret “Mattie” (Maserang) Vinson. He attended school in Canadian, graduating from there in 1953. He continued his education at Texas Tech, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. While in college, he married the love of his life, Betty Jean Pigg, on December 26, 1954, in Canadian. They lived in Lubbock until graduation and then spent the next two years in Hawthorn, California. During this time, their first child, Teresa Ann, was born. They spent the next 34 working years in Roswell, New Mexico and Amarillo, where he worked for the electric company SPS. Alicia Jan and David Keith were born in Roswell.
George was a member of the Country Club Road Church of Christ in Roswell, where he served as a deacon and later as an elder. He also helped teach one of the adult Bible classes. He moved to Amarillo, attended the Central Church of Christ, and for the past few years was a member of the Bell Avenue Church of Christ. While at Bell Avenue, Tommy Key introduced him to the “We Care Ministry,” a group that knocks on doors all over the United States and preaches the gospel to anyone who will listen. He served in this mission for about 10 years, teaching many people. He loved reading the Bible and wanted as many as possible to hear and follow it. He also went to the Neal and Clements units and had an influence on many of the inmates.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. For the last two years, his poor health prevented him from being a full participant in family life. He has been in Gentiva Hospice and a loving private nursing home run by Jessica Hernandez. We would like to thank everyone involved in his care. You all treated him like your own son and for that we are truly grateful.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Eargle and Mattie Vinson, his daughter, Teresa Ann Carey, his two brothers, Dane and Charles Vinson, his son-in-law, Davis Bennett, his sister, D’Ann Farris, and his brother-in-law, Jim Farris.
George is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty Jean; his daughter, Alicia Jan Bennett, of Roswell; his son, David Keith Vinson and his wife, Cathey, of San Antonio; his brother, Gene Vinson and his wife, Patty, of Imperial, Nebraska; his son-in-law, Mark Carey, of Lubbock; his sisters-in-law, Imogene Vinson of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and Jill Vinson of Lubbock; seven grandchildren and their spouses, nine great-grandchildren (with another on the way), and numerous nieces and nephews.
