John Robert (Jack) Dumas, 94, of Greenville, Texas died Monday, December 6, 2010. Since March 2009, Mr. Dumas had been a resident at Briarcliff Health Center-Greenville.
He was born November 14, 1916 in Rockwall, Texas to Walter A. and Madge Dumas. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and attended North Texas State Teachers College in Denton, TX (now the University of North Texas).
On September 14, 1940, he married Mable Inez Gentry of Coppell, TX. Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the U.S. Navy and served both state-side and on the island of Guam in the Pacific.
All of his adult life, he loved the retail business because it allowed him to work and interact with people. He enjoyed a 25-year career with Sears from 1940 until his retirement in 1965. He was manager of Sears in Greenville from 1958 until his retirement. The years following his retirement from Sears included working for the Greenville Cablevision Co. and the Collins-Hilton Outlet Furniture Store. He was also an avid golfer and following his retirement from Sears could be seen on the local golf course up to four times each week.
He had a great affection for Greenville and because of this served on the Greenville City Council, the City of Greenville Tax Board, the Parks & Recreation Board, the Retail Merchants Association, and the City of Greenville Board of Adjustment. He also felt a great commitment to the Salvation Army and was one of those responsible for bringing the Salvation Army to Greenville.
Jack and his wife Mable were also very committed Christians, having been charter members of Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Fe, NM; Pioneer Drive Baptist Church of Abilene, TX; and Ridgecrest Baptist Church of Greenville. Ridgecrest Baptist Church also honored Jack and Mable for their 50 years of continuous Christian service in Sunday school leadership in numerous Baptist churches.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mable G. Dumas; his parents Walter and Madge Dumas; his stepmother Vera Dumas; his four sisters Dorothy (Dot) Wade, Mary Bills, Virginia Cluck, and Anna Gray Carroll Bray, and brother Benbrook Dumas; step-sister Lois Waggoner Howard; and granddaughter, Stephanie Leigh Dumas.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Scott and wife Sharon, who currently reside in Denton, TX and grandson, Jonathan and his wife Melinda, who also reside in Denton.
Arrangements are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, 5100 Interstate 30 and US 69, Greenville, TX 75402. Family visitation will be Monday, December 13th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:30 AM in the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, with Dr. David Stubblefield officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park in Greenville, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made in the memory of Jack Dumas to Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 6801 Wesley Street, Greenville, TX 75402; or to the Salvation Army, 4601 King Street, Greenville, TX 75401; or to a charity of your choice.
Pallbearers are Lowell Lawson, Charles Mayo, Dee Hilton, Ralph Harper, Nick Jones and John Mizell. Honorary pallbearers will be the Men's Adult Seven Sunday School Class.
