Arnold Shaver Sr.

Arnold Wesley Shaver, Sr. age 91, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2018. He was born in Healdton, Oklahoma on June 25, 1926. He graduated from Abilene Christian High School in Abilene, Texas in 1944. He briefly attended Abilene Christian College in Abilene and Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas before serving his country during World War II as a weatherman in the US Navy. He returned to Healdton after his service.

Arnold met the love of his life, Oma "Jean" Howell at church in Healdton when he was 13 years old. He and Jean married on October 23, 1944. They owned and operated a dry cleaners and menswear business in Healdton for over 30 years before moving to Abilene in 1967 and purchasing Varsity Cleaners near the ACU campus. After retiring from the cleaners, Arnold became a Dormitory director at ACU from 1974 until 1991.

He served as an elder for Shell Street church of Christ in Healdton and Woodlawn church of Christ in Abilene. In their later years, they were members of the University church of Christ in Abilene.

Arnold was a man of many talents and hobbies. He was a football and basketball referee in Oklahoma for over 20 years. He was a member of the Abilene Memory Men Chorus barbershop singers. He shared his passion for fishing in Oklahoma and Lake City, Colorado with his children and grandchildren. He also was an avid hunter.

Arnold was best known in his role as "Gramps". The loving patriarch of the Shaver family - gentle, kind, never raising his voice, always with a laugh, and frequently causing mischief with the grandchildren. In later years he often leveraged his dementia such as claiming he had not had a donut when in fact he had already eaten three.

Arnold is preceded in death by his wife of 69 years Jean Shaver, son Arnold Wesley Shaver, Jr., mother Tessie Shaver, father Austin Shaver, brother Tommy Shaver, sister-in-law Waunette Shaver and daughter-in-law Elaine Shaver. He is survived by his son Kenny Shaver of Jenkins, TX, and his daughter Kara Cobb and her husband Don of Stamford, TX, and his daughter-in-law, Rose Shaver of Houston, TX . He is survived by his grandchildren Scott Shaver and his wife Shari of Houston, TX, Kim Richey of Houston, TX, Kevin Cobb and his wife Mandy of Seattle, WA, Andrea Whitehead and her husband Justin of Dallas, TX, Dillon Cobb and his wife Talan of Abilene, TX, Rachel Gibson and her husband Jonathan of Nashville, TN, Seth Shaver and his wife Charity of Abilene, TX and Aaron Shaver and his wife Arielle of Abilene, TX. Arnold is also survived and was blessed by eight great grandchildren.

A celebration of Arnold's life will be held 1:00 pm Friday, April 20, 2018 at University church of Christ 733 E. North 16th St. Abilene, TX 79601. A visitation with the family will be Thursday April 19, 2018 from 5:00 - 6:30pm at Elmwood Funeral Home 5750 US Hwy 277 S Abilene, TX 79606.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Sooner Youth Camp, c/o Mary Ferguson 7431 E. Memorial Rd Edmond, OK, 73013 or online at www.sycok.org. The Shaver family has supported Sooner Youth Camp since the initial board meeting in 1947 and continue to serve today.

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