Individual Details

AUSTIN, Texas - James Glardon "Don" Vinson passed away on Sept. 16, 2005, in Austin, Texas, where he lived for the past three years. He was 87 years old. Don was born in Irvine, Ky. in 1918 to Victor Vocial Vinson and Nina Howell Vinson, now both deceased. During his life, he lived in Irvine, Hazard, Louisville and other towns in Kentucky; Vicksburg, Miss.; Dallas, Texas; Lafayette, La.; Richmond, Va.; and Austin, Texas. He was employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 39 years. Starting as a sales representative in the mid 1940s, Don was appointed District Manager of the office of MetLife in Lafayette, La., and served in that position from 1959 until his retirement in 1982. The Lafayette district was twice awarded the top Leadership Conference honor (for the highest sales in the nation) during his tenure. He was also a member of the Acadiana Chapter of the Chartered Life Underwriters. After his first retirement, Don served as Vice President of the Bank of Lafayette, retiring a second time in 1987. Prior work included newspaper reporting and management (skills he learned under the tutelage of his father, who owned newspapers in small cities around the United States, including Carrizo Springs, Big Wells and Crystal City, Texas). He also worked for the motion picture industry during the early years of the Great Depression. As a young man Don joined the Kentucky National Guard and then enlisted in the Army. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific Theater (Philippines) and attaining the highest NCO rank at the time of Army Master Sergeant. He crossed the Pacific (from Hawaii to Luzon) on the USS Bunker Hill. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans. Don was deeply interested in civic affairs. He was a member of the Lafayette Lions Club, serving two terms as President. He was also a member of Session and a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Lafayette as well as a member of the Masons. Don served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 58 in Lafayette, with several boys obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout under his guidance. He was a founder of Lafayette Faith House, a safe house for abused women and children, and served as its Treasurer and one of its Directors for several years. He was an early supporter of the hospice movement and was instrumental in facilitating the third-party funding of hospice services. In 1961, Don became a "Kentucky Colonel" (an honor bestowed on notable Kentuckians by the state governor). He was also a Grand Duke of the Krewe of Troubadours (Town House Club) for Lafayette's Mardi Gras festivities in 1963. Don was a singer for several regional Big Bands in the 1930s and 1940s. Throughout his life he was an avid freshwater fisherman (fishing extensively in the western Atchafalaya River Basin), an expert crossword puzzler and a marvelous storyteller. Don smoked at least one cigar almost every day of his life from the age of 15. He was a wonderful and devoted husband, a great and loving father (and grandfather and great-grandfather) and a friend to nearly everyone he met. His family will miss him terribly. Don is survived by his wife, Mary Sheegog Vinson, of Austin, Texas, to whom he was married for 66 years. He passed away on their wedding anniversary. Don is also survived by his children, daughter Patricia Anne Vinson (and her son Bobby Hoffpauir and daughters Mary Green and Anne Hoffpauir); daughter, Sarah Frances Baggett (and her husband, Joe Baggett and their daughters, Tricia Phelps and Margaret Baggett); daughter, Genevieve Glardon Vinson (and her son, Brant Davis and daughter Elizabeth Didlake); son James Richard Vinson (and his wife, Sandy Vinson and their son, Victor Vinson); and son John Willis Vinson (and his wife, Martha Vogel). He had nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Wishing to benefit humankind in one final way, Don instructed that his body be given for scientific and medical research. Don was cared for in his last days by many supportive people, including the Summit staff as well as the compassionate caregivers of A-Med Community Hospice. Those wishing to make donations in his memory may do so to the nonprofit hospice of their choice. (September 29, 2005, Lafayette Daily Advertiser on-line.)

Birth	Abt 1918
Marriage	Bef Jul 1940	Mary Sheegog
Death	16 Sep 2005	Austin, Travis County, TX

Spouse	Mary Sheegog ( - )
Child	Patricia Ann Vinson (1940 - )