DR. EDWARD WETAH MINCE, 86, passed away Dec. 24, 2011,
with interment at DFW National Cemetery.
Dr. Mince was born Sept. 12, 1925, in Canton to Flynn &
Pearl Carter Mince. He graduated from Martins Mill High
School in 1941 at the age of 15. He joined the Army Air
Corps, December 1943, where he trained to fly on the B-17
bomber. In May of 1944, he married Marie Thomas in Dallas.
He was discharged from the service in May 1946. He graduated
from SMU in January 1949 with a degree in business admini-
stration. He received his master of science degree in history
from East Texas State Teachers College in May 1951, and
received his Ph.D. in philosophy and college administration
in June 1968 from the University of Texas at Austin. He served
as dean at Henderson County Junior College from 1949 to 1956
and at Cisco Jr. College from 1956 to 1965. Dr. Mince became
president of Ranger Jr. College in 1965. In 1971, he moved to
Weatherford where he served as president of Weatherford College
for 22 years. He was the longest serving president in the
history of Weatherford College.
From 1968 to 1991, he served on various state and national
community college boards and committees, and then from 1988
to 1989, he was the president of the Texas Associations of
Community Colleges. He also served on the National Community
College Board and the visitation teams of The Southern
Association of Colleges. Dr. Mince was a member of Rotary Club
International and was named a Paul Harris fellow. He served on
the Hospital Board in Ranger, president of the Weatherford
Chamber of Commerce, worked with MANNA Food Bank, and Parker
County Historical Society. He served on the Board of Directors
at Citizens National Bank in Weatherford & was named Citizen of
the Year for Weatherford in 1978. Dr. Mince was an active member
of First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon since the age
of 24, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school.
E.W. Mince was preceded in death by his brother, Clifton Mince,
and his grandson, Chandler Ed Craig.
Survivors at the time of his death: his wife of 67 years, Marie
Mince; his brother, Aloren Mince and wife, Pat, of Arlington; his
sister, Gloria Mince Pennington and husband, James, of Meridian;
his daughters, Karen Mince Craig (RHS-1968) and husband, Dr. Bill
Craig, of Hamilton and Weta Mince Phillips (RHS-1973) of Graham;
his grandchildren, Dr. Shalor Craig and wife, Melissa, of Hamilton,
Griffin Phillips of Newcastle, Jordan Phillips and wife, Barbara,
of Mount Pleasant, MI, and Meagan Phillips of New York City;
his great-grandchildren, Kellan, Nolan and Carter Craig of Hamilton;
his nephews, Greg, Gary and David Mince; and his nieces, Sherry
Syner and Lori Morgan.
WIFE: EDITH MARIE THOMAS MINCE, 94, passed away March 18, 2021 in
Weatherford, TX, with burial alongside her husband, at the
DFW National Cemetery in Dallas.
She was born in Canton, TX, on Sept. 9, 1926, to John William
Thomas & Tommie Dee Stroud Thomas. After graduating from Canton
High School, she married Edward Wetah Mince in May of 1944 in
Dallas. They were married 67 years until his death in Dec. of
2011. As a bride, Marie followed her husband all over the United
States as he served in the US Army Corps of Engineers. She would
pack their belongings and ride a Greyhound bus from base to base.
Marie worked to put her husband through college (as he earned 3
degrees) before she went back and received her Bachelors Degree
in English in 1967 from Tarleton State University graduating Summa
Cum Laude. After graduation she taught elementary school for 10
years before retiring to travel with her husband and be a grand-
mother.
Marie & E.W. lived in Dallas, Athens, Cisco, Ranger and then in
1971 they moved to Weatherford. She was a great asset to her
husband, and the colleges where he served as president, by
opening her home on many occasions & hosting large gatherings.
Marie was a very active member of the First Baptist Church
in each town where she lived. She taught Sunday school, VBS,
and sang in the choir. Over the years she was active in Meals
on Wheels and the Parker County Historical Society. Her
interests were varied as she enjoyed golf, photography, and
painting, but especially loved reading, sewing and travel.
She was a gourmet cook, a very gracious hostess, and loved
to entertain with dinner parties. Marie loved science and
at the age of 89, when she moved into a care facility, she
requested the magazines Discover and National Geographic
for her reading material.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Dr. Edward Wetah
Mince, her parents; brother, Clyde Thomas; and grandson,
Chandler Ed Craig.
Marie is survived by daughters, Karen Mince Craig (Dr. Bill)
of Hamilton and Weta Mince Phillips of Graham; grandchildren,
Dr. Shalor Craig (Melissa) of Hamilton, Griffin Phillips (Dawn)
of Newcastle, Dr. Jordan Phillips (Dr. Barbara) of Richardson,
and Meagan Marie Mayol (Joseph) of Portland, Oregon. Seven
great-grandchildren Kellan, Carter, Nolan Craig and Nora Marie,
Melissa, Anna, and Thomas Phillips; brothers in law, James
Pennington and Aloren (Pat) Mince; several nieces and nephews.