Arlis Arthur Erwin's Obituary
Arlis Arthur Erwin, 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2020, in Dallas, Texas. He was born on March 16, 1933, to his loving and thoughtful parents, Arthur Erwin and Nora Samantha Nall Erwin in Fouke, AR. Arlis Arthur Erwin will be sincerely missed by his loving family, his devoted friends and all the wonderful individuals who knew and loved him.
Arlis' family moved to Texarkana, Texas in 1939 following the death of his father. At that time, he had one younger sister and two younger brothers. They played and worked on their aunt & uncle's farm in Fouke, AR during the summers. Arlis acquired 6 more brothers and 2 more sisters when his mother remarried in the early 1940s.
As a teen, he played high school football and worked in the neighborhood grocery store to help support his family. After graduating from Texarkana High School in 1952, he joined the United States Navy and served during the Korean War. He was assigned to a ship that had just returned stateside, not returning overseas, so they practiced maneuvers elsewhere. The Navy trained him as a machinist and honorably discharged him in 1954.
Arlis said he first met the love of his life and future wife, Betty Louise Smith when she was 13 years old. They married on August 25, 1956 in Wake Village, Texas.
Arlis attended UTAustin and UTArlington. He and Betty both worked for the aircraft industry in Grand Prairie. After two layoffs, they moved to Garland and Arlis went to work at Texas Instruments, where he remained for 35 years.
He was a Machinist and then an Engineering Tech. As a Tech, he helped build and test machines to test small machine parts made by T.I. When these machines were sent to T.I. plants abroad, Arlis went along to teach the locals how to use and troubleshoot the equipment. He made trips to El Salvador, Singapore, Philippines, England and Italy. During those years, he and Betty built a home, which he remodeled several times and raised their children.
Arlis & Betty were very active members of First Presbyterian Church Garland, serving as elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers and youth sponsors to name a few. Arlis played on the church softball team for at least 20 years. They also enjoyed square dancing for about 10 years. He was a self taught handyman/mechanic and often used his skills to help the single women and widows in the church. He and Betty loved camping/traveling the US, starting with a tent and working their way up to a 5th wheel trailer.
Arlis was preceded in death by Betty, his wife of 60 years and his daughter, Valerie Nell Erwin Dixon both in 2016. He is survived by his son in law Lynn Dixon; children Natalie Louise Erwin Alling & husband Jeff; Bryan Reece Erwin & wife Victoria; Yonnie Lanell Erwin Stewart & husband Jerry; grandchildren McKenzie Louise Dixon, Tyler Arlis Dixon, James Nathan Alling, Jonathan Bennett Alling, Hannah Louise Alling, Sarah Elizabeth Alling; Lane Alexander Williams, Callie Amanda Erwin, Neely Damaira Williams, Jacob William Stewart, Andrew Carson Stewart; great-grandson Jesse Sage Carter; and extended family and friends.
Memorial Service:
Thursday, February 13, at 2 pm
First Presbyterian Church
930 W Avenue B
Garland, Texas 75040
972-272-2595
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Garland, Texas
Building and Grounds Fund.
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