Wayne Monroney

Lewis Wayne Monroney (92) of Dallas, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 2, 2015, just one week from his 93rd birthday. He suffered a cardiac arrest at the DFW Airport on his way to visit family in California.

Wayne was born in Hazel Dell, Illinois on July 11, 1922. His parents were Garrett and Edna Monroney, and he was the eldest sibling to sisters Gwendelyn and Evelyn. The family moved from Illinois to find work in the West Texas oil fields during the Great Depression. When World War II broke out, Wayne served in the Navy on board the U.S.S. Saratoga Naval Aircraft Carrier.

Wayne attended Texas Tech University, and later graduated from West Texas State University with a degree in Industrial Arts. In 1952, he married the love of his life, Betty Jo Rose, of Forsan, Texas.

Wayne was employed by Sun Oil Company for more than 30 years, moving from Forsan to Snyder, Texas (Wayne’s forever hometown) in 1958. There, they raised their two daughters, Waynann and Wendy, and became integral parts of First Baptist Church, their schools, and their community.

Wayne was an avid golfer and bowler, serving as a long-term board member in both sports. He still holds court over the famous “Wayne’s Bridge over Monroney Creek “ on Hole #2 of the Western Texas College Golf Course. He was always on the go-go-go, and thoroughly enjoyed not only his cross-country and international travels, but also his service trips for many Church Builders projects across the nation.

Always one to lend a hand and find the fun in the moment, Wayne was a beloved friend to one and all -- in both West Texas and the Dallas area. After moving to Irving after the death of his wife Betty, he never tired of asking his new Irving friends (or even casual acquaintances) to “Take me back to West Texas!” After living in Irving at the Remington Retirement Home for four years, he married Mary Virginia Smith of Lubbock. He and Virginia were active members of Plymouth Park Baptist Church.


Family was first and foremost with Wayne, and he dearly loved his Princess, Cricket, Pasquale, Caledonia, Tooter, Red Rose, Yellow Rose, and Sunflower.

Wayne is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law Waynann and Don Olson (San Luis Obispo, California) and Wendy and Greg Skulman.(Dallas); grandchildren Nicholas Bowden (Marie), Danielle Olson, Alissa Olson Brouwer (Andrew), and Alexandra Skulman, as well as nieces and nephews Brenda Cowley, Steve Cowley, Joyce Bennett, and Jimmy Bennett. He is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Betty Jo Rose Monroney in 2002, and his second wife Mary Virginia Smith Monroney in 2014, his parents Garrett and Edna Monroney, and his sisters Gwendelyn Bennett and Evelyn Cowley.

Memorial services for Wayne Monroney will be held at the Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, TX at 3:00 PM on Monday, July 6, 2015, with graveside services held at Hillside Memorial Gardens in Snyder on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 11:00 AM.

Contributions in Wayne’s memory may be sent to Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, TX.