Louis Edward Vannatter, retired pastor of First Baptist Church Bandera, died June 7, 2008, at the age of 71.
Louis was born May 11, 1937 to Wilburn Morris Vannatter and Wilmeta Vannatter. He was reared in the Logan, West Virginia area. Much of his childhood was spent in the coalmining camp, "Holden 22." This small community housed and made available the necessities for daily living for the employees and their families. Many folk there could relate to the song, "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store."
At age 17, Vannatter joined the US Air Force following a cave-in at a site being mined by his father's employees. This small operation was in the process of extracting some shallow seams of coal, and Wilburn had employed his son Louis to drive the coal truck.
This dramatic event in which he helped to carry injured men from the mine, prompted his dad to recommend he join the military and get a job skill.
The coalmining town experiences and his 20 years in the USAF provided a multitude of illustrations, that he would later use in his 40 (plus) years of delivering sermons at Southern Baptist Churches. When a surprise party was being planned for his 50th birthday, one of his church deacons inquired if he was really going to be age 50, because he thought Louis must surly be a hundred years old, to acquire that many stories.
Louis "Eddie" Vannatter dropped out of school in the ninth grade so he could drive a wrecker and bring home $35 a week. When he entered the Air Force, they encouraged education and continued to train him in various fields. He worked as a machine gunner, then an aircraft electrician, a training instructor for advance electrons, a position to bring various shops up to standards, training instructor for new recruits, classroom instruction, curriculum writer, and his last job before retirement from the USAF was that of VIP Briefing. Vannatter was called on to directly brief dignataries visiting Lackland AFB these included the vice president of the United States and many generals.
One of his most exciting jobs was to work on the crew of a C-130 that penetrated typhoons for weather readings in the Pacific. During the Viet Nam era, Vannatter sustained injuries after parachuting from an aircraft that was on mission.
He received bachelor degrees from University of Texas at San Antonio and International Bible Institute. He received an Honorary Doctorate from International Bible Institute. Louis and his wife Sandra Stokes Vannatter were married 35 years. They were privileged to maintain their homeplace in Medina through the years, even when living in other communities where he ministered. She has fond memories of their time spent in Bulverde, Fredericksburg, Valley-Hi in San Antonio, and at Chacon Lake near Lytle.
Louis's seven adult children who were often mentioned by name in his illustrations were able to be at his bedside, and to comfort one another. These include daughters Deena and husband Charlie Pate, Panama City Beach, Fla., Rhonda and husband Scott Patchett of Kingsport, Tenn., Shannon and husband Kenneth Carbery of Holly Springs, Miss., Augusta "Alex" and husband Dan Wooldridge of Floresville; sons Grant and wife Shannon Taylor Vannatter of Heber Springs, Ark., Nathan and wife Dusty Reed Vannatter of Abilene, and Jordan and wife Patricia Steinkamp Vannatter of Corpus Christi. At this time he had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to more.
The Vannatter family members who still live in the West Virginia and Ohio area include his brothers Bill and wife Clara Vannatter, Wilburn Junior and wife Sherry, and sisters Jeane Bannister and Patricia Ross.
Funeral services were held on June 10, at the First Baptist Church in Boerne with Bro. Phil Flournoy officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina with Bro. Phillip Schroeder officiating. The family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Vannatter's name to the Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX, 75227; The Gideons, P.O. Box 293434, Kerrville, TX, 78029; and/or the Medina Community Library, P.O. Box 300, Medina, TX, 78055.
Louis was born May 11, 1937 to Wilburn Morris Vannatter and Wilmeta Vannatter. He was reared in the Logan, West Virginia area. Much of his childhood was spent in the coalmining camp, "Holden 22." This small community housed and made available the necessities for daily living for the employees and their families. Many folk there could relate to the song, "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store."
At age 17, Vannatter joined the US Air Force following a cave-in at a site being mined by his father's employees. This small operation was in the process of extracting some shallow seams of coal, and Wilburn had employed his son Louis to drive the coal truck.
This dramatic event in which he helped to carry injured men from the mine, prompted his dad to recommend he join the military and get a job skill.
The coalmining town experiences and his 20 years in the USAF provided a multitude of illustrations, that he would later use in his 40 (plus) years of delivering sermons at Southern Baptist Churches. When a surprise party was being planned for his 50th birthday, one of his church deacons inquired if he was really going to be age 50, because he thought Louis must surly be a hundred years old, to acquire that many stories.
Louis "Eddie" Vannatter dropped out of school in the ninth grade so he could drive a wrecker and bring home $35 a week. When he entered the Air Force, they encouraged education and continued to train him in various fields. He worked as a machine gunner, then an aircraft electrician, a training instructor for advance electrons, a position to bring various shops up to standards, training instructor for new recruits, classroom instruction, curriculum writer, and his last job before retirement from the USAF was that of VIP Briefing. Vannatter was called on to directly brief dignataries visiting Lackland AFB these included the vice president of the United States and many generals.
One of his most exciting jobs was to work on the crew of a C-130 that penetrated typhoons for weather readings in the Pacific. During the Viet Nam era, Vannatter sustained injuries after parachuting from an aircraft that was on mission.
He received bachelor degrees from University of Texas at San Antonio and International Bible Institute. He received an Honorary Doctorate from International Bible Institute. Louis and his wife Sandra Stokes Vannatter were married 35 years. They were privileged to maintain their homeplace in Medina through the years, even when living in other communities where he ministered. She has fond memories of their time spent in Bulverde, Fredericksburg, Valley-Hi in San Antonio, and at Chacon Lake near Lytle.
Louis's seven adult children who were often mentioned by name in his illustrations were able to be at his bedside, and to comfort one another. These include daughters Deena and husband Charlie Pate, Panama City Beach, Fla., Rhonda and husband Scott Patchett of Kingsport, Tenn., Shannon and husband Kenneth Carbery of Holly Springs, Miss., Augusta "Alex" and husband Dan Wooldridge of Floresville; sons Grant and wife Shannon Taylor Vannatter of Heber Springs, Ark., Nathan and wife Dusty Reed Vannatter of Abilene, and Jordan and wife Patricia Steinkamp Vannatter of Corpus Christi. At this time he had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to more.
The Vannatter family members who still live in the West Virginia and Ohio area include his brothers Bill and wife Clara Vannatter, Wilburn Junior and wife Sherry, and sisters Jeane Bannister and Patricia Ross.
Funeral services were held on June 10, at the First Baptist Church in Boerne with Bro. Phil Flournoy officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina with Bro. Phillip Schroeder officiating. The family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Vannatter's name to the Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX, 75227; The Gideons, P.O. Box 293434, Kerrville, TX, 78029; and/or the Medina Community Library, P.O. Box 300, Medina, TX, 78055.
Louis Edward Vannatter, retired pastor of First Baptist Church Bandera, died June 7, 2008, at the age of 71.
Louis was born May 11, 1937 to Wilburn Morris Vannatter and Wilmeta Vannatter. He was reared in the Logan, West Virginia area. Much of his childhood was spent in the coalmining camp, "Holden 22." This small community housed and made available the necessities for daily living for the employees and their families. Many folk there could relate to the song, "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store."
At age 17, Vannatter joined the US Air Force following a cave-in at a site being mined by his father's employees. This small operation was in the process of extracting some shallow seams of coal, and Wilburn had employed his son Louis to drive the coal truck.
This dramatic event in which he helped to carry injured men from the mine, prompted his dad to recommend he join the military and get a job skill.
The coalmining town experiences and his 20 years in the USAF provided a multitude of illustrations, that he would later use in his 40 (plus) years of delivering sermons at Southern Baptist Churches. When a surprise party was being planned for his 50th birthday, one of his church deacons inquired if he was really going to be age 50, because he thought Louis must surly be a hundred years old, to acquire that many stories.
Louis "Eddie" Vannatter dropped out of school in the ninth grade so he could drive a wrecker and bring home $35 a week. When he entered the Air Force, they encouraged education and continued to train him in various fields. He worked as a machine gunner, then an aircraft electrician, a training instructor for advance electrons, a position to bring various shops up to standards, training instructor for new recruits, classroom instruction, curriculum writer, and his last job before retirement from the USAF was that of VIP Briefing. Vannatter was called on to directly brief dignataries visiting Lackland AFB these included the vice president of the United States and many generals.
One of his most exciting jobs was to work on the crew of a C-130 that penetrated typhoons for weather readings in the Pacific. During the Viet Nam era, Vannatter sustained injuries after parachuting from an aircraft that was on mission.
He received bachelor degrees from University of Texas at San Antonio and International Bible Institute. He received an Honorary Doctorate from International Bible Institute. Louis and his wife Sandra Stokes Vannatter were married 35 years. They were privileged to maintain their homeplace in Medina through the years, even when living in other communities where he ministered. She has fond memories of their time spent in Bulverde, Fredericksburg, Valley-Hi in San Antonio, and at Chacon Lake near Lytle.
Louis's seven adult children who were often mentioned by name in his illustrations were able to be at his bedside, and to comfort one another. These include daughters Deena and husband Charlie Pate, Panama City Beach, Fla., Rhonda and husband Scott Patchett of Kingsport, Tenn., Shannon and husband Kenneth Carbery of Holly Springs, Miss., Augusta "Alex" and husband Dan Wooldridge of Floresville; sons Grant and wife Shannon Taylor Vannatter of Heber Springs, Ark., Nathan and wife Dusty Reed Vannatter of Abilene, and Jordan and wife Patricia Steinkamp Vannatter of Corpus Christi. At this time he had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to more.
The Vannatter family members who still live in the West Virginia and Ohio area include his brothers Bill and wife Clara Vannatter, Wilburn Junior and wife Sherry, and sisters Jeane Bannister and Patricia Ross.
Funeral services were held on June 10, at the First Baptist Church in Boerne with Bro. Phil Flournoy officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina with Bro. Phillip Schroeder officiating. The family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Vannatter's name to the Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX, 75227; The Gideons, P.O. Box 293434, Kerrville, TX, 78029; and/or the Medina Community Library, P.O. Box 300, Medina, TX, 78055.
Louis was born May 11, 1937 to Wilburn Morris Vannatter and Wilmeta Vannatter. He was reared in the Logan, West Virginia area. Much of his childhood was spent in the coalmining camp, "Holden 22." This small community housed and made available the necessities for daily living for the employees and their families. Many folk there could relate to the song, "I Owe My Soul to the Company Store."
At age 17, Vannatter joined the US Air Force following a cave-in at a site being mined by his father's employees. This small operation was in the process of extracting some shallow seams of coal, and Wilburn had employed his son Louis to drive the coal truck.
This dramatic event in which he helped to carry injured men from the mine, prompted his dad to recommend he join the military and get a job skill.
The coalmining town experiences and his 20 years in the USAF provided a multitude of illustrations, that he would later use in his 40 (plus) years of delivering sermons at Southern Baptist Churches. When a surprise party was being planned for his 50th birthday, one of his church deacons inquired if he was really going to be age 50, because he thought Louis must surly be a hundred years old, to acquire that many stories.
Louis "Eddie" Vannatter dropped out of school in the ninth grade so he could drive a wrecker and bring home $35 a week. When he entered the Air Force, they encouraged education and continued to train him in various fields. He worked as a machine gunner, then an aircraft electrician, a training instructor for advance electrons, a position to bring various shops up to standards, training instructor for new recruits, classroom instruction, curriculum writer, and his last job before retirement from the USAF was that of VIP Briefing. Vannatter was called on to directly brief dignataries visiting Lackland AFB these included the vice president of the United States and many generals.
One of his most exciting jobs was to work on the crew of a C-130 that penetrated typhoons for weather readings in the Pacific. During the Viet Nam era, Vannatter sustained injuries after parachuting from an aircraft that was on mission.
He received bachelor degrees from University of Texas at San Antonio and International Bible Institute. He received an Honorary Doctorate from International Bible Institute. Louis and his wife Sandra Stokes Vannatter were married 35 years. They were privileged to maintain their homeplace in Medina through the years, even when living in other communities where he ministered. She has fond memories of their time spent in Bulverde, Fredericksburg, Valley-Hi in San Antonio, and at Chacon Lake near Lytle.
Louis's seven adult children who were often mentioned by name in his illustrations were able to be at his bedside, and to comfort one another. These include daughters Deena and husband Charlie Pate, Panama City Beach, Fla., Rhonda and husband Scott Patchett of Kingsport, Tenn., Shannon and husband Kenneth Carbery of Holly Springs, Miss., Augusta "Alex" and husband Dan Wooldridge of Floresville; sons Grant and wife Shannon Taylor Vannatter of Heber Springs, Ark., Nathan and wife Dusty Reed Vannatter of Abilene, and Jordan and wife Patricia Steinkamp Vannatter of Corpus Christi. At this time he had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to more.
The Vannatter family members who still live in the West Virginia and Ohio area include his brothers Bill and wife Clara Vannatter, Wilburn Junior and wife Sherry, and sisters Jeane Bannister and Patricia Ross.
Funeral services were held on June 10, at the First Baptist Church in Boerne with Bro. Phil Flournoy officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at Oak Rest Cemetery in Medina with Bro. Phillip Schroeder officiating. The family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Vannatter's name to the Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX, 75227; The Gideons, P.O. Box 293434, Kerrville, TX, 78029; and/or the Medina Community Library, P.O. Box 300, Medina, TX, 78055.
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