Richard Lee Nowell's Obituary
Richard Lee (Dick) Nowell, an honorable man who walked humbly with the Lord, left this life’s journey on Monday, March 21, 2011. Dick was born to farmer and Baptist minister Zedic Allie Nowell and Manie Adline Webb Nowell on August 3, 1920 in Clarksville, Texas. He was the youngest of their seven children. At age 17, Dick left home to serve in the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he excelled in road construction and forestry. After eighteen months with the CCC, Dick returned home to complete high school. He then attended East Texas Baptist College. Dick enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1942, attaining the rank of 1st Lt. and serving as a B-24 navigator during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945, having received three Oak Leaf Cluster awards and three Bronze Service Stars. Following his military service, Dick earned a Bachelor’s degree in English at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and a Master of Religious Education degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dick attended North Dallas Baptist Church, where he met Helen Louise Hamilton. Dick and Helen were married on August 14, 1953. They moved to Farmers Branch, Texas in 1957 and would live there until 2010. After attending other churches for several years, the Nowells joined First Baptist Church of Carrollton, Texas in 1971 and were active members along with their children, Nancy and Greg. Dick taught Sunday School classes for many years. Dick and Helen moved to Little Elm, Texas in 2010, but remained members of FBC Carrollton at the time of his death. Dick worked as a scheduler at Ling-Temco-Vought for over 39 years, retiring in 1991. He and Helen then fulfilled their dream of traveling throughout the United States and Canada. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and infant son David Hamilton Nowell. Dick is survived by his loving and devoted wife Helen Nowell; daughter Nancy McMahan, son-in-law Tim McMahan, granddaughter Lee Ann McMahan and grandson John McMahan; son Greg Nowell, daughter-in-law Pam Nowell, and grandsons Andrew Nowell and Joshua Nowell; beloved sister-in-law Betty Hamilton; several nieces and nephews and many friends.
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