Ollie Wayne Gandy

Ollie Wayne Gandy, 77 of Abilene, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2015 at a local care facility. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 20, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street, with interment at 3:00 p.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery. A visitation with the family will be on Thursday, March 19, 2015 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Ollie Wayne was born in 1937 in Breckenridge, Texas to Ollie John Gandy and Fannie Harrison Gandy. Ollie Wayne was trained in high school as a tool and dye cutter. His skill in this field became renown as he progressed from his first job with R.E. Dye in Breckenridge. His career included employment with Automation Industries, Rockwell International, Easter Machine and Manufacturing and Owens Machine. During the 1960’s, he machined parts for Carol Shelby and the Shelby Mustang out of Dallas. He considered this, and the opportunity to machine some of the first parts used to build the B-1A test bombers in the 1970’s, as personal career highlights. This work ultimately culminated in the delivery of the first operational B-1B bombers to Dyess Air Force Base.

Ollie Wayne served in the U.S. Army from February 1960 - 1963. He was assigned to the local 517th Artillery 5th Missile Battalion B Battery Nike Hercules Missile site, who’s mission included the protection of the new Air Force base. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, he and his fellow members of the battalion painted messages on the missiles for Fidel Castro. Fortunately for Castro, he never had a chance to read them.

Ollie Wayne never knew a stranger and apparently was loved by all who knew him. Family members were often greeted by perfect strangers who asked if they were related to him. They would then exclaim their love and respect for Ollie Wayne as a dear friend, coworker or supervisor.

Ollie Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie John and Fannie Gandy, sisters Helen Means and Janice Mills, brother Travis Gandy and brother-in-law Terry Tindall. He is survived by his wife, Francine Gandy, sister Verline Willingham and husband Glenn, son Mitchell Gandy, daughter Kelly Gandy Neff and husband Michael and grandchildren Richard Allen and Trevor Lee Neff.

Ollie Wayne shared his home and his love with many family pets. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his name to the Abilene Humane Society, Rescue the Animals or Habitat for Humanity.

Death is not the end, but the beginning. We shall meet again in Heaven.

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