John and Dorothy Soules

John Wendell Soules, Sr., 93, of Sundown, passed away March 23, 2020, followed by his beloved wife of 73 years, Dorothy Aileen Pittman Soules, 92, of Sundown, who passed away March 24, 2020. 

Dorothy was born on her parents’ farm outside Mullin TX on February 24, 1928. She graduated from Mullin High School in 1945.

John was born in Goldthwaite TX on May 29, 1926. He graduated from Goldthwaite High School in 1943. In February 1944, he joined the Merchant Marines to do his part during World War II. He made several short trips on SS Fort Erie and SS Kings Canyon to the Marshall Islands, Pearl Harbor and Carolina, before he shipped out on SS Cape Canso to participate in the Okinawan assault/occupation. 

John was released from the ship July 1945 and returned to Texas where he met Dorothy Pittman at a Halloween Carnival in Mullin TX.  After a wartime courtship, they married September 7, 1946.

John and Dorothy travelled with the Geological Survey until 1951 when John joined Tidewater/Getty Oil Company. They moved to Sundown area with Tidewater/Getty in 1953, putting down deep roots and raised their three children.

Dorothy studied at Jesse Lee’s Hair Design Institute in Lubbock, where she obtained her Cosmetology license.  She then opened Soules BeautyLand in 1957 and used her talents on many of the ladies of Sundown until she retired in 1970.

John served as Mayor of Sundown in the 1960s, starting the beautification program. He also represented Sundown ISD by addressing the State of Texas House and Senate during a joint meeting concerning small school funding in 1968. He was instrumental in developing Sundown State Bank into the institution it is today, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for many years. 

John and Dorothy started Soules & Son, Inc. in 1970, building it into a telecommunications installation business that installed all sorts of cable across the Southwestern region of the US, before retiring in 1998.

Dorothy was a member of the Sundown Baptist Church, the Order of Eastern Star, and served as the first woman on the Sundown School Board. 

Her faith, family and creative design in many different media were her passions.

John was a member of Sundown Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge – 32nd Degree Mason.

His faith, family and helping his community were his passions, perhaps his white truck or backhoe will still be seen driving the streets of Sundown in the minds of everyone he has helped over the years.

John is survived by sister Janet Soules Frame of Mansfield, TX.

John and Dorothy are both survived by daughter Kay Soules of Lubbock, TX, daughter Blanche Soules Chisum of Wilmington, NC, and son John Soules Jr of Sundown, TX. Five grandchildren Charissa Soules Marcucilli of Norwalk, CT, Blanden Chisum of Cary, NC, James “Jim” Chisum of Wilmington, NC, John Soules III of Odessa, TX, Marcella Soules Cranfill of Lubbock, TX, and twelve great-grandchildren.

On July 3, 2021 at Sundown Church, Sundown, TX, a Family Visitation will be held at 9:00AM – 9:45AM, with Celebration of Life service at 10:00AM, followed by internment at the Sundown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and at the family’s request, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate or Southwest Parkinson Society at https://www.swparkinson.org/donate.

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