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Warren Thaxton Obituary

Warren Thaxton

Abilene

Warren Glenn Thaxton, 81, of Abilene, Texas, passed away at 3:23 p.m., August 14, 2013, at Windcrest Healthcare Center.

Interment will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, Garden of Peace, 5750 Hwy. 277 South, Abilene, at 11 a.m. Monday, August 19, followed by a family lunch provided by friends at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, August 19, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive. Officiating will be Jeff Reid, minister of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, and Jack Ridlehoover, retired minister of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Arrangements are by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m., Sunday, August 18 at the funeral home.

Warren was born in Abilene to LeRoy Thaxton and Razzie Mae Thaxton on April 21, 1932. He attended Abilene public schools where he became interested in music at an early age. Warren began playing trombone in the sixth grade band at South Junior High School. He was in the Abilene High School Band under Prof. Raymond Bynum.

In 1948, Warren entered Hardin Simmons University where he was a member of the Cowboy Band. It was also at HSU that Warren met Laura Fay McBeth. They were married on June 9, 1952, in Irving, Texas. Laura's father officiated the wedding.

During the Korean War, Warren joined the Air Force and played trombone in the 669th Air Force Band stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. In 1953, he again entered Hardin Simmons, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Music degree in 1955.

Warren's first teaching assignment was to begin a band program in Trent, Texas. In 1957, he became the junior high band director in Colorado City, Texas. In 1958, he received a master's degree from Southern College of Fine Arts.

Following an assignment as band director in Breckenridge, Texas, Warren returned to Abilene in 1961 to become the first band director of the newly completed Madison Junior High School. In 1966, he became only the second band director at Cooper High School. Under his tenure, Cooper's band tripled in size and earned a string of Sweepstakes awards. During his thirteen years as Cooper band director, Warren taught hundreds of students who went on to become band directors or professional musicians.

In 1979, Warren became assistant band director at Abilene High School. He helped with the Eagle Band and taught beginning students at many of the middle schools in Abilene. He retired in 1997 after 42 years of teaching band.

While retired from teaching, Warren never retired from music. For years, he played with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a regular with the Abilene Community Band and the orchestra at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.

In 2000, Warren received the most prestigious honor given by the Texas Bandmaster Association. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmaster's Hall of Fame.

Warren was preceded in death by daughter Tamara Lynn and by his parents.

He is survived by Laura, his wife of 61 years, and two sons, Eric and Kirk; by his daughters-in-law Janlyn and Kristi; and by his grandchildren Joshua, Kaitlin, Kyle, Hayley and her husband Steve Hughes, and Matthew and his wife Akane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tamara Thaxton Memorial French Horn Scholarship at Abilene Christian University, P.O. Box 29132, Abilene, Texas, 79699, and the Warren Thaxton Endowed Scholarship for Trombone at Hardin Simmons University, P.O. Box 16100, Abilene, Texas, 79698.

The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to Dr. George Dawson for his wisdom, encouraging words, and guidance during this difficult time.

Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Published by Abilene Reporter-News from Aug. 17 to Aug. 18, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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Our thoughts are with you as you celebrate Warren's life and legacy.

Jody & Curtis Chang

September 3, 2013

My condolences to Mr. Thaxton's family. I just learned of his passing. He was the assistant band director when I was in band at Abilene High School from 1989 to 1993. He loved music. I still have the special barrel he made for all the clarinets. He was always encouraging and kind.

Deborah Castleman (Williams)

August 20, 2013

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

August 19, 2013

My condolences to the Thaxton family upon Mr. Thaxton's passing. I have fond memories of playing in marching band under Mr. Thaxton and of the kindness of his family.

Molly Polk

August 19, 2013

Mr. Thaxton was my band director at Cooper during the years 1977-1979. He was a great band director and teacher. I was afraid of him at first (I think we all were) but came to know him over those years as a gentle man that worked very hard for the band and cared about his students. He was one of my main influences as a musician and bandsman, but more importantly, he was a fine example of Christian leadership. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Bobby Cox

August 18, 2013

You were a positive influence on our daughter, Gaila, at Cooper High, and we thank you.

Richard & Joan Angel

August 18, 2013

I remember playing under Mr Thaxton at various band clinics, I learned alot from him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at his difficult time.

Debra Greene

August 18, 2013

I will always remember the first time I saw Mr. Thaxton. It was at a band camp when I was in Junior High. I was exhasperating and he was so patient. That will always stick with me. Eric and Janlyn, I am sorry for your loss. Warren was a real treasure. Mike Herd

Mike Herd

August 17, 2013

Mr.Thaxton was a great man i really enjoyed taking care of him at windcrest! Prayers go out to his family!! He will be greatly missed!!!

Elizabeth Walker-CNA @ Windcrest

August 17, 2013

Mr.Thaxton was a great man I took care of him at Windcrest Health Care he will be missed by all Unit 4 CNA's we loved him so dearly

Jennifer McWhorter

August 17, 2013

Mr.Thaxton was my first bank director in Trent Texas. He helped teach me the love of music which I still have today at the age of 68. I appreciated him and never forgot his teachings and how he cared for all of us. My thoughts and prayers with this family

beverly hallford-davis

August 17, 2013

He was my teacher, my hero and my friend. Because he believed in me, I have enjoyed a long career as a band director and music teacher. I will never forget him.

Margaret Cooper

August 17, 2013

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Funeral services provided by:

Hamil Family Funeral Home

6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX 79606

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