Lewis Lemmond

Dr. Lewis Earl Lemmond, esteemed teacher and administrator, died Saturday, September 27, 2014, at Brookdale Oak Hollow in Bedford after suffering a stroke on September 12, 2014. Dr. Lemmond came to Abilene in 1973 as Director of Secondary Education for Abilene Independent School District and later served as Deputy Superintendent for Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction. After his retirement from AISD in 1985, Dr. Lemmond worked at West Central Texas Council of Governments as the Director of Area Agency on Aging and later as Director of Big Country Center for Professional Development and Technology. Born June 12, 1925 in Enloe, Texas, Dr. Lemmond was the only child of Flora Mae (Nixon) and Elmo Lemmond. At the age of fifty-three, he married Bobbie Sue Raines Goldston, a widow with two adult children. He often said Bobbie gave him the family he thought he had missed. In 2007 Dr. Lemmond and Bobbie moved to Wesley Court Retirement Community. The day after their 30th year anniversary in 2008, Bobbie died after a brief illness. When his health failed in 2012, Dr. Lemmond moved to Windsor Senior Living in Dallas to be near his step-daughter, Carolyn Welcome. Dr. Lemmond graduated from Texas Senior High School in 1942. He served in the United States Army during World War II and graduated from Texarkana Junior College in 1947. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1948 and the Master of Education degree from East Texas State Teachers’ College in 1950. He studied school administration at George Peabody College and received the Doctor of Philosophy degree from East Texas State College in 1964. Dr. Lemmond was an ordained minister. He pastored small Baptist churches for 30 years in Harmony Grove, Sylverino, Red Springs, Hicks, Old Boston, and West Texarkana. After moving to Abilene, Dr. Lemmond became the teacher of the Victory Bible Class, a non-denominational Bible study class that met in the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church. He was known for his vast knowledge of the Bible and for his articulate and inspiring delivery. He retired after teaching eighteen years. He was past chair of the Deacon Body at First Baptist Church and served on numerous committees at the church. Memorial service for Dr. Lewis Lemmond will be Monday, October 6, at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Abilene officiated by Dr. Anthony E. Roach, Sr., assisted by Rev. Palmer McCown. Private family burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. Survivors include his stepchildren, Carolyn Welcome of Arlington and Larry and Joyce Goldston of Lubbock. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jeffrey and Kelli Goldston of Lubbock and Elizabeth and Dustin Davis and their daughter, Presley Anne, of Plano. Memorial contribution may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 85, Abilene, Texas 79604, or a favorite charity.