Wayne L Caldwell

Wayne L. Caldwell, age 84, of Gatesville passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2019. Funeral Services will be Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 2 PM, at East Main Church of Christ.  Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 6 PM Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the funeral home. Wayne was born on March 8, 1935 in Hugo, Oklahoma to the late Willis and Ida Campbell Caldwell. He grew up on a farm at the Rock Hill Community north of Hugo, OK. At the age of nine, he moved into town. That same year he started working at the Hugo Daily News delivering papers on a paper route. Wayne started working in the production area when he was 13. By the age of 16, he could operate all the machinery. After graduating from high school in 1953, Wayne was promoted to Linotype operator. On October 31, 1959, he married Eula Faye Luna and a short time later, at the age of 24, He was promoted to Foreman of the newspaper. Wayne remained in this positon until 1963. He then moved to Caldwell, Kansas where he was employed at the Caldwell Messenger, a weekly newspaper. After a year, Wayne returned to the paper in Hugo. In 1970, he was hired as the Offset Printing Instructor at the Mountain View Unit, State School for Boys in Gatesville, Texas. He remained at this positon until the school closed in 1974. Wayne then was hired by Central Texas College as an Offset Printing Instructor for the Graphic Arts program. Because the program was just getting started, he developed the Offset Printing courses. Four years later, Wayne was one of a team of five instructors who wrote self-paced programs for their areas of instruction. Sometime later, Wayne was promoted to Department Chairman and Instructor. He received an Associate Degree from Central Texas College in August of 1986.  In 1988, Wayne was transferred from the main campus in Killeen to Gatesville to teach female inmates at the Texas Department of Corrections at the Hilltop Unit. He retired in 1995.  Wayne played an active role in the community and served on many boards and organizations. He as a former member and president of Hugo Jaycees, Hugo City Council for two years, charter member of the Gatesville Exchange Club, member of the Gatesville Country Club, Coryell County Retired Teachers Association, served two years in the mentoring program in Gatesville schools, delivered countless meals on wheels, and was active at East Main Church Christ. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Cecil Caldwell, Hugh Caldwell and Dillard Caldwell, sisters; Ollie Young and Esther Creacy. Wayne is survived by his wife, Eula; daughters, Teresa Hall and husband Bob, Kelly Bragewitz and husband Terry; sons, Jim Caldwell and Clint Caldwell, grandchildren: Jake Caldwell and wife Shae, Travis Bragewitz, Kaitlynn Hall and husband Dusty Galindo, Kelcy Pierce and husband Tanner, Justin Hall, and Jolie James, great granddaughter; Kynzlie Caldwell, brother; Bill Caldwell and wife Goldie, sister-in-law; Margarette Ann Caldwell, and life-long friend Don Tice and wife Judy. Wayne had a bigger than life personality and a BIG voice to go with it. He never met a stranger. He loved life in general and kids in particular.  He freely gave hugs and told everyone “I love you”.