William D. Chewning

William D. Chewning, 84, died Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at an Abilene nursing center. Born in Denison, Grayson County, Texas on March 20, 1926, William was the son of Ethel Mae (Ulrich) and Samuel Dobbs Chewning. He graduated from Denison High School and attended Abilene Christian College, now ACU. He served in the U. S. Army Medical Corps. Mr. Chewning owned a sharpening service business, sharpening saws and various tools. For years he also decorated the windows at Thornton's for Christmas and kept the animated figures in good working condition. He was also an artist and photographer. He was a member of Woodlawn Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nelda Aletha Corthron Chewning, whom he married in 1947 in Denison, Texas, and his parents. William is survived by one brother, Samuel Chewning of Greenville, Mississippi; two brothers-in-law and their spouses, Carl Corthron and Dixie of Buffalo Gap, Texas, and Vittie Corthron and Ann of Denison; and several nieces and nephews, as well as very close friends Gabriele and Mary Ann Ronquillo of Abilene. The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 29, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Graveside services will be Monday, January 31, at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Colbert, Oklahoma, with Clayton Crabtree officiating. Memorials may be made to the Taylor-Jones Humane Society, 2301 North 3rd St., Abilene, TX 79603, or Rescue The Animals SPCA, 4620 North 1st St., Abilene, TX 79603.