Dwight LaMar

Dwight LaMar, 86, longtime Winslow resident and native of Arizona, died April 2, 2011, in Flagstaff. He was born at home in Morristown on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29, 1924. He was the sixth of seven children.

His parents, Colonel Horald "C.H." and Ila Casebier LaMar, moved in 1916 from Kansas to northern Arizona, then to Castle Hot Springs Junction in 1924, where C.H. was employed as section foreman for the Santa Fe Railroad.

Mr. LaMar attended Morristown Elementary, a rural one-room school, and graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1942. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II and trained as an infantry man. He was later assigned to the 842nd Signal Service Company overseas in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations as a cryptographic technician enciphering and deciphering classified messages. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.

Mr. LaMar hired out as an operator with the Santa Fe Railroad in 1946 at Castle Hot Springs Junction. He became a train dispatcher in 1949 at Winslow, where he continued his railroad career. In 1976, he was appointed to the position of chief dispatcher of the Albuquerque Division. His railroad service began when communications were primarily by lantern signals, telegraph keys and Morse Code. By his retirement in 1984, the railroad was using sophisticated "space age" computer technology in its system-wide operations.

Mr. LaMar married Marie Sharar on April 21, 1951, at the Methodist Church in Winslow. He grew up exploring the desert. His knowledge of the outdoors served him well. He hunted and fished throughout his life and passed on these skills to his grandsons. He spent time working with his brother-in-law, Bill Tipton, on the ranch at Gisela near Payson. He mastered the guitar and mandolin and enjoyed jamming at bluegrass festivals. His daughter Beverlee shared her dad's love of horses and music. His pastime was gardening and sharing the bounty with friends and neighbors.

In 2005, Mr. LaMar was diagnosed with lung cancer. He received treatment under the care of Dr. Paul Kuefler and the staff at Flagstaff's Cancer Center for six years and benefitted from the prayers of many, many people.

Mr. LaMar is survived by his wife, Marie; daughter Beverlee (David) Carrell; two grandsons; two great-grandchildren; and sisters Ena McGuire of Morristown and Ila Mae (John) Sutherlin of Glendale. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Clyde and DeLoss LaMar; and sisters Dorothy Tipton and Beverlee Ruth LaMar.

At Mr. LaMar's request, there will be no funeral service. Condolences can be sent to Norvel Owens Mortuary at www.norvel owensmortuary.com.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Diablo Trust, P.O. Box 3058, Flagstaff, AZ 86003, or Olivia White Hospice, P.O. Box 997, Flagstaff, AZ 86002.

Norvel Owens Mortuary is handling arrangements.