Dr. Nolan McWhirter

Dr. Nolan McWhirter, age 94, passed away December 1, 2008, at Country Home Estates in Commerce.

He was born April 21, 1914, in Texhoma, TX, to John Wesley McWhirter and Zella Anne Black.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Cathy Deaton and husband Ray of Commerce; grandsons, Brian Nolan McWhirter and Bart Deaton of Commerce; daughter-in-law Holly Jester and husband James of Forney; grandchildren, Larry Kyle Jester of Forney; Travis McWhirter, who is currently servingin the United States Armed Forces; granddaughter, Tiffany Jester of Forney; numerous great grandchildren; 2 nieces; 2 nephews and a host of friends.

He was preceeded in death by his wife, Marie De Wolfe McWhirter; two sons, Robert Paul McWhirter and Larry Eugene McWhirter.

Dr. McWhirter was active in the Nickel Coffee Society; Dough Rollins Sunday School Class; Sulphur Springs Sams (camping club); Commerce Lions Club (past president, past secretary-treasurer, past zone chairman, past deputy district governor, and current assistant secretary-treasurer); member Goodwell, Oklahoma, City Council 1960-1965 (mayor 1963-65); Co-chairman Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Commerce First United Methodist Church; and, a member Administrative Board, Commerce First United Methodist Church.

The date of his first appointment at East Texas State University was in 1965. Other educational appointments include an instructor in Science and Mathematics and Superintendent of Schools, Two Buttes, Colorado, 1941-42; Science Instructor, Protection, Kansas, 1942-43; Science Instructor and Acting Department Head, Plainview Schools, Wichita, Kansas, 1943-44; Field Work, Vertebrate Paleontology, Stovall Museum, University of Oklahoma, 1937-38; Museum Assistant, Stovall Museum, University of Oklahoma, 1938-39; Field Work, Statewide Paleontologic-Mineralogic Survey, Bureau of Economic Geology, The Univeristy of Texas, 1939-41; Head Department of Sciences and Professor of Geology, Panhandle State University, 1946-65; Director, No Man's Land Museum, Panhandle State Universtiy, 1934-38; 1946-65; Director, Public Relations, Panhandle State University, 1946-65; Manager, Panhandle District Science Fair, 1960-65; Member, Oklahoma State Council on Science Fairs, 1960-65; Consultant Community Action Program on Science, Oklahoma Academy of Science, 1960-65; Member, Advisory Committee, Oklahoma Junior Academy of Science, 1960-65; Regional Coordinator, Oklahoma Junior Academy of Science, 1965; Adjuct Professor, Oklahoma State University (teaching graduate courses at Panhandle State Center) 1962-1965; Professor of Earth Sciences, Department Head, East Texas State University, 1965-72; Professor of Earth Sciences, East Texas State University, 1965-82; Professor of Education, East Texas State University, 1974-82; Coordinator of Self Study and Coodinator of visit by National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, 1974; and, Coordinator of Self Study and Visit by Texas Education Agency for accreditation, 1975.

Visitation will be held at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 3, 2008, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, December 4, at 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce with Rev. Aleze Fulbright officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce.

Pallbearers will be members of the Commerce Lions Club.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Dough Rollins Sunday School Class; Nickel Coffee Society; and the Sulphur Springs Sams Camping Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Commerce or the Hunt County Regional Hospital of Commerce Auxiliary.