Charles Thomas Gettys
d. September 19, 2007
Date Died: September 19, 2007
DECATUR - Charles Thomas Gettys, 86, a long-time Decatur civic leader, businessman, teacher and rancher died Wednesday, September 19, 2007, in a Carrollton hospital after a lengthy illness.
FUNERAL: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at The First Baptist Church of Decatur with Rev. Ken May and Dr. Thomas Brumett to officiate, with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
Charles "Tom" Gettys was born August 6, 1921 in Fort Worth, Texas to Cicero Thomas Gettys and Albert VanNess Walker Gettys. He married Janice Mann on June 14, 1947 in Artesia, New Mexico.
Tom graduated from Decatur Baptist College and North Texas Teachers College of Denton. After serving as head of a microbiology laboratory in a United State Army station hospital during WWII, he returned to Decatur as a science professor at Decatur Baptist College. During his career there, he also served as registrar and business manager, and headed the project that in 1959 successfully acquired accreditation for the college by the Southern Association of Colleges. When he resigned in 1962, he had also served as dean of the college for nine years. He entered the insurance and real estate business, formed and later sold Allied Agency. He continued to manage personal and family real estate, including the McMurray-Gettys Office Building for a number of years. He has authored two books, one an autobiographical account of Camp Livingston's Prisoner of War Internment Camp, the other, a historical record of Decatur Baptist College.
He was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur and served on many of its committees. He was a bank director, former President of both the Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club, of which he was a 60 year member. He was a member of the original board of the Decatur Community Hospital, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and served as the Civil Defense Coordinator of Wise County. Tom was a member of the Wise County Veterans Group, and he participated in numerous other organizations and projects, and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
SURVIVORS: Wife of 60 years, Janice Gettys; Son, Ronald Thomas Gettys, 2 daughters, Charlotte Meador and husband Franklin, Leisa Waylett and husband, Manshadow; sisters, Margaret Ann Cude and husband, Mel, Mary Louise Woodruff, and husband W.B., all of Decatur; five granddaughters, Shauna Tomme, Eryn Gettys, Sterling Cole, LeaAnn Meador, Kara Overton; one grandson, Chance Overton; one great granddaughter, Triston Meador; two geat grandsons, Matthew Tomme and Owen Cole; two great great grandsons, Camden and Dayton Minihan; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
PALLBEARERS: Chance Overton, Martin Woodruff, Tim Woodruff, Melton Cude, Franklin Meador, and Ray Nellis.
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Sammy Renshaw, Rex Gage, Dr. W. M. Lewis, Mason Woodruff, Murray Cude, and Manshadow Waylett
Donations can be made to Wise Regional Health System.
Dear Gettys family, I attended Decatur Baptist College and worked in the office during the time Dr. Gettys was the business manager. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family; however, I will be unable to attend the services. My prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. Patsy Crenshaw Sivley