W.J. "Dub" Vinson, Jr.

Willis James (Dub) Vinson, Jr., 81, died on February 14, 2011, in Abilene, Texas. Services will be held at 2:00 pm at the Hamby Church of Christ on Friday February the 18th with Dr. Phil Christopher of First Baptist Church and Steve Cunningham officiating. Interment will follow in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery in Funston, Texas. Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday the 17th from 5-7 pm at the Piersall Benton Funeral Home, 733 Butternut St.

Dub was born in Jones County, Texas, to Willis James and Leta Belle Starritt Vinson on January 4, 1930. He attended school at Willow Creek and in Abilene. On September 28, 1948, he married Virginia Ruth Holt in Taylor County, Texas. Shortly after their marriage, he began working for Mead's Bakery where he worked for 30 years. Following the closing of the bakery in Abilene, he relocated to San Angelo, where he took a similar job with Holsum Bakery in 1979. He continued to be employed there until he got an offer to become Director of Maintenance for Abilene Christian Schools in 1986. It was there that he found his true calling. Called "Big Dad" by his grandchildren, he soon became the surrogate grandfather and Big Dad to the children at ACS. He loved all of his kids and, in turn, was loved by them. He always made sure that he had plenty of dollar bills in his pocket just in case one of his kids forgot lunch money for the day. He was also there for advice, support or just a kind word. He often said he had more grandchildren than any other grandfather in the world. In 2007, Big Dad and Big Mom received the John L. and June Estes Award from Abilene Christian Schools for their contributions to the school. In 2006, at the age of 76, Big Dad retired. An avid fan of all of his children's activities, he served as a baseball coach, league official, grandstand cheerleader and, later, president of the Abilene High School Eagle Booster Club. In 2009, he was able to cheer his beloved Abilene Eagles on to the State Championship. He was also a member of the Texas Cowboy Christmas Ball Association for many years in Anson, TX, and served as Vice-President from 1993 until 2007.

Big Dad was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Fern McCulloch, Georgia Willingham, Nancy Fillmon and Joy Keesee, his brothers, Lewis O. Vinson and Charley L. Vinson and his beloved son Rick Vinson. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; a son and daughter-in-law Ronnie and Laura Vinson of Hamby; daughter Barbara Vinson Fahrlender of Buffalo Gap; grandchildren, Kim (Brian) Lilly of Bedford, TX, Jackie (John) Powell of Abilene, Erin Fahrlender of Buffalo Gap, Sam (Lucy) Vinson of Abilene, and Matt Fahrlender of Abilene; great grandchildren, Allison Lilly and Jordan Lilly of Bedford, Luke Powell, Kate Powell and Gwen Powell of Abilene. Survivors also include his sister, Allene Scott of Abilene, TX, his brother Joe Vinson of Casper, WY, his mother-in-law, Gladys Holt of Abilene, TX, and his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jo and Bob Burton of San Angelo, TX, Bobbie Jean Vinson of Wichita Falls, TX and George Keesee of Ovalo, TX, along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by children of his heart, Clemente and Martha Cortinez and their children Gabriel Cortinez and Christina (Trinidad) Garcia and by all the kids of ACS whom he considered his grandchildren.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.