Avent - Person Sheet
Avent - Person Sheet
NameAVENT, Richard Gray Sr. 
, GGGG Grandson
, GGGG GrandsonBirth Date2 Apr 1918
Birth PlacePalestine, Anderson County, Texas
Death Date21 Jul 2008 Age: 90
Death PlaceLongview, Gregg County, Texas
FlagsServed in the Military, World War II
FatherAVENT, Lt. Col. Hugh Pauling (1890-1984)
MotherGRAY, Ruth Ann
Misc. Notes
Richard Gray Avent, entrepreneur, educator, and lawyer, died Monday, July 21, 2008 at age 90 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
He was born to Col. Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent in Palestine, Texas on April 2, 1918. dick spent his formative years as an army brat. He graduated from high school in Greenville, South Carolina and attended Clemson University. He moved to Austin, Texas in 1940 to attend the University of Texas School of Law.
World War II intervened and Dick enlisted in the Army-Air Corp on December 8, 1941 and became a Counter-Intelligence Officer in the European Theater. He often worked behind enemy lines in occupied France and enjoyed living on the edge in that part of his life. His experiences in 1945 documenting atrocities at two Nazi concentration camps stuck with him the rest of his life.
Dick returned to Austin and finished law school in 1948. While in Austin, Dick served as Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, was president of the Young Lawyers, active with the State Bar of Texas, and admitted to the United States District Courts for the Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and the United States Supreme Court.
Dick's real love, however, was real estate and he was a sub-divider and builder in Austin. In 1951, he met his future bride, Frances Ava Roddy. They married and lived in Austin, Texas until 1966.
After 20 years of building and subdividing in Austin, Dick became interested in teaching on a Collegiate Level, obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and moved his family to Kilgore to join the faculty at Kilgore College. he taught Criminal Law and Psychology. In 1969, he opened Learning Foundations, a Longview tutoring center. He managed real estate investments in later years.
Dick was a lifetime Episcopalian and served on the Church vestry in Kilgore and later in Longview at Trinity Episcopal Church.
In his younger days, Dick was a scratch golfer. At age 13, he won a local tournament at Augusta Country Club in Greenville, South Carolina and was honored to play a round of golf with golf legend Bobby Jones.
Dick Avent was a Life Member of the Texas Ex-Students Association, a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a Master Mason, Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.
He leaves as a legacy his love of life and family and dry sense of humor. Dick and his wife Frances traveled the world.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent, brother, Hugh Avent, Jr. and sister, Dr. Henrietta Avent.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Avent, and sisters, Frances Grove and Mason Hunter. He is also survived by a son and daughter, Robert Avent and his wife, Evelyn; Ava Avent Welge and her husband, Jack, and grandchildren, Kirsten Welge, Kathleen Welge, William Billy Avent, and Scott Avent and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was born to Col. Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent in Palestine, Texas on April 2, 1918. dick spent his formative years as an army brat. He graduated from high school in Greenville, South Carolina and attended Clemson University. He moved to Austin, Texas in 1940 to attend the University of Texas School of Law.
World War II intervened and Dick enlisted in the Army-Air Corp on December 8, 1941 and became a Counter-Intelligence Officer in the European Theater. He often worked behind enemy lines in occupied France and enjoyed living on the edge in that part of his life. His experiences in 1945 documenting atrocities at two Nazi concentration camps stuck with him the rest of his life.
Dick returned to Austin and finished law school in 1948. While in Austin, Dick served as Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, was president of the Young Lawyers, active with the State Bar of Texas, and admitted to the United States District Courts for the Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and the United States Supreme Court.
Dick's real love, however, was real estate and he was a sub-divider and builder in Austin. In 1951, he met his future bride, Frances Ava Roddy. They married and lived in Austin, Texas until 1966.
After 20 years of building and subdividing in Austin, Dick became interested in teaching on a Collegiate Level, obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and moved his family to Kilgore to join the faculty at Kilgore College. he taught Criminal Law and Psychology. In 1969, he opened Learning Foundations, a Longview tutoring center. He managed real estate investments in later years.
Dick was a lifetime Episcopalian and served on the Church vestry in Kilgore and later in Longview at Trinity Episcopal Church.
In his younger days, Dick was a scratch golfer. At age 13, he won a local tournament at Augusta Country Club in Greenville, South Carolina and was honored to play a round of golf with golf legend Bobby Jones.
Dick Avent was a Life Member of the Texas Ex-Students Association, a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a Master Mason, Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.
He leaves as a legacy his love of life and family and dry sense of humor. Dick and his wife Frances traveled the world.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel Hugh P. Avent and Ruth Gray Avent, brother, Hugh Avent, Jr. and sister, Dr. Henrietta Avent.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Avent, and sisters, Frances Grove and Mason Hunter. He is also survived by a son and daughter, Robert Avent and his wife, Evelyn; Ava Avent Welge and her husband, Jack, and grandchildren, Kirsten Welge, Kathleen Welge, William Billy Avent, and Scott Avent and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Spouses
Birth Date18 Apr 1930
Birth PlacePort Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Death Date30 Nov 2018 Age: 88
Death PlaceLongview, Gregg County, Texas
Misc. Notes
Obituary for Frances Ava Roddy Avent, mother, entrepreneur, insurance executive, and librarian, died Friday, November 30, 2018 at age 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born to Thomas Carl Roddy and Ervelia Singletary Roddy in Port Arthur, Texas on April 18, 1930.
She then moved to Austin, Texas at age 16 to attend the University of Texas and obtain the only BS Degree in Drama ever conferred.
She met her future husband, Austin Attorney and WWII veteran, Richard Gray Avent, after Dick saw her in a play and had to meet her. They were married after a whirlwind courtship and continued to reside in Austin, Texas. Her master’s degree in Drama was cut short when her first child, Ava, arrived one month early. A son, Robert Avent, arrived 3 years later.
The family resided in Austin where Dick practiced law and Frances ran an insurance agency. Frances and Dick were very civically and socially active in Austin. They were avid bridge players and ballroom dancers. They also loved travel both throughout the United States and abroad with their family. Frances also loved genealogy research with sister, Elizabeth Roddy Cecil.
When the children were older, Frances began her master’s in library science at U. T. Austin, and upon moving to Kilgore in 1966, completed her M.S. Degree in Library Science at East Texas University in Commerce (now Texas A&M Commerce). Frances then became Director of Longview ISD Libraries as LISD was placed under the Desegregation Order. There, she was instrumental in ensuring that all incoming teachers and personnel had full access to all library materials and AV equipment.
Frances and Dick loved to travel. To allow all summer free for travel, when the job came open, she moved from her Director position to that of Librarian at Judson Middle School. It was there she received her greatest joy in working with the children and personnel of Judson Middle School.
She was a Life Member of the Texas Ex-Student’s Association and active in Gregg County Texas Exes, Gregg County Law Wives, Prelude (Longview Symphony Guild) and Trinity Episcopal Church. She was an early chair of the Longview Symphony Christmas Corner and was instrumental in designing the bright green booths constructed by Wells Burton.
She leaves as a legacy her lasting impact of encouragement for life-long learning.
She was preceded in death by Richard Gray Avent, her husband of 57 years, sister, Elizabeth Roddy Cecil, and parents, Thomas Carl Roddy and Ervelia Singletary Roddy.
She is survived by her daughter Ava Avent Welge (and her husband, Jack Welge, Jr.), and son, Robert Avent (and his wife, Vi); and grandchildren, Kirsten Welge, Kathleen Welge, William Avent, and Scott Avent.
She then moved to Austin, Texas at age 16 to attend the University of Texas and obtain the only BS Degree in Drama ever conferred.
She met her future husband, Austin Attorney and WWII veteran, Richard Gray Avent, after Dick saw her in a play and had to meet her. They were married after a whirlwind courtship and continued to reside in Austin, Texas. Her master’s degree in Drama was cut short when her first child, Ava, arrived one month early. A son, Robert Avent, arrived 3 years later.
The family resided in Austin where Dick practiced law and Frances ran an insurance agency. Frances and Dick were very civically and socially active in Austin. They were avid bridge players and ballroom dancers. They also loved travel both throughout the United States and abroad with their family. Frances also loved genealogy research with sister, Elizabeth Roddy Cecil.
When the children were older, Frances began her master’s in library science at U. T. Austin, and upon moving to Kilgore in 1966, completed her M.S. Degree in Library Science at East Texas University in Commerce (now Texas A&M Commerce). Frances then became Director of Longview ISD Libraries as LISD was placed under the Desegregation Order. There, she was instrumental in ensuring that all incoming teachers and personnel had full access to all library materials and AV equipment.
Frances and Dick loved to travel. To allow all summer free for travel, when the job came open, she moved from her Director position to that of Librarian at Judson Middle School. It was there she received her greatest joy in working with the children and personnel of Judson Middle School.
She was a Life Member of the Texas Ex-Student’s Association and active in Gregg County Texas Exes, Gregg County Law Wives, Prelude (Longview Symphony Guild) and Trinity Episcopal Church. She was an early chair of the Longview Symphony Christmas Corner and was instrumental in designing the bright green booths constructed by Wells Burton.
She leaves as a legacy her lasting impact of encouragement for life-long learning.
She was preceded in death by Richard Gray Avent, her husband of 57 years, sister, Elizabeth Roddy Cecil, and parents, Thomas Carl Roddy and Ervelia Singletary Roddy.
She is survived by her daughter Ava Avent Welge (and her husband, Jack Welge, Jr.), and son, Robert Avent (and his wife, Vi); and grandchildren, Kirsten Welge, Kathleen Welge, William Avent, and Scott Avent.
Marr Date21 Mar 1951
Marr PlaceTravis County, Texas
ChildrenAva