Charles Kilgore Cone Jr.'s Obituary
Charles Kilgore Cone, Jr. died peacefully December 5 at Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas.Charles was born October 24, 1921 in Dallas to parents Charles K. Cone and Earnestine Pollard Cone. He was raised on Tokolon Dr. in Lakewood. In 1938, Charles graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School where he managed the Wildcats football team. He continued his education with degrees from Southern Methodist University, Cambridge University in Cambridge, England and in later years, Texas A&M University.In 1942, he began active military duty as a Staff Sergeant in the 1097th U.S. Army Signal Company Service Group. He served as a High Speed Radio Operator and was qualified as a Carbine Marksman during World War II. He participated in the Rhineland Battle and Campaign, earning a Bronze Star for participation in the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, and an American Theater Campaign Medal.Following the War, he worked as a building foreman before joining Texas Instruments as an engineer, traveling internationally on TI special projects. In 1948, he married Dorothy Dee Bell. As a couple, Dorothy and Charles influenced a generation of youth attending First Presbyterian Church of Dallas where Charles had been a member since infancy. The two served as Children’s Sunday school teachers and then became sponsors of the Youth group, hosting numerous junior high and high school Vesper events at their home on Lafayette Way. Additionally, Charles coached the championship First Pres Softball team. Dorothy passed away in 1986.Always demonstrating his strong Christian faith, Charles served his lifelong church as a deacon, elder, ruling elder, foundation board member and Stewpot volunteer. For many years he would rise faithfully at dawn to make a weekly bread run to several area grocery stores, collecting day-old baked goods for Stewpot clients.For more than 60 years, Charles was a member of the Allman Class at First Presbyterian Church. The Allman Class is where he met his second wife, Hellen Barron. The widower and widow married and experienced the joy of being grandparents as two granddaughters were born just months after Charles and Hellen’s wedding. The grandchildren provided a new dimension to Charles’ life and for the next 20 years he was attending dance recitals, soccer games, swim meets, football games, etc.Another love for Charles was his farm in Athens where he raised Red Angus cattle. Every Wednesday and Saturday, he and Hellen trucked to feed the cows, and check fence lines. In addition to the herd of cattle, Charles saw to a vegetable garden that struggled to survive and a burgeoning group of Christmas trees planted as seedlings. Hellen died in 2006.A man of many interests, Charles has always stayed busy. He was one of the original members of the First Men’s Garden Club of Dallas. The club awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his dedication and service. He also has been a longtime member of the prestigious Bonehead Club of Dallas that prides itself on important activities– such as riding a fire-engine to the State Fair to officially close the event the day before it opened. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Citadel Club, the Red Angus Association of America, Texas Instruments Alumni Association and the YMCA’s Grady Spruce Camp board.Computer literate, Charles used technology skills to rekindle a friendship with his high school sweetheart Alice Keitz Taylor. Through e-mail, Alice and Charles rediscovered their youthful mutual attraction over several months, culminating in their 2012 wedding in Flat Rock, North Carolina. They were married in Alice’s home, overlooking a beautiful setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Following the wedding, Charles and Alice moved to his home in Dallas and later to Presbyterian Village North’s Joyce Hall.Charles’ failing eyesight and loss of hearing were unfortunate, but with Alice’s optimism and support, they continued to enjoy a happy union. They delighted in each other’s company.Charles is survived by his wife Alice Emma Taylor Cone, nephews Jack May and Gary Cone, nieces Nancy Crumpton, Sandy Fisher and Cathy Hattey, cousins Nancy Butts and Gretchen Richardson, step-children Dorothy Alice Taylor, Enid Gail Barron and spouse Rick Bastas, Gary Barron and Mary Fagan, Ellen Barron Petersen; and grand-daughters Caitlin Erin Bastas and Laura Danielle Petersen.He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Susanna Estella Cone May, brother William Cone, wives Dorothy Bell Cone and Hellen Barron Cone.Visitation will take place Friday, December 8 at Restland Funeral Home between 5 and 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 9 at 1 p.m. in the Sudie George Chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Buchanan and Rev. Rebecca Chancellor Sicks officiating. Burial with military honors will precede the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Restland Cemetery. All are invited.In lieu of flowers, donations in Charles’ name may be sent to the Stewpot which serves the homeless and at-risk population, 408 Park Ave. Dallas, TX 75201 or the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Foundation, 1835 Young St., Dallas, TX 75201.
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