Wayne Allen Prince

03/20/2019

Wayne Allen Prince, father, grandfather, husband, educator, farmer, and friend died on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the age of 75.

Wayne was born September 13, 1943 in Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He was the son of the late Percy and the late Theo (Allen) Prince.

Wayne is survived by:

Wife, Elaine (Mills) Prince

Sons:
Scott Prince and his wife Kim of Garrison
Larry Prince and his wife Jackie of Garrison

Daughter, Denise (Prince) Kersten and her husband Duane of Bryan

Grandchildren:
Laura (Prince) Huffman and her husband AJ of Garrison
Kaylee (Prince) Cage and her husband Clint of Lewisville
Hunter Prince of Nacogdoches
Doug Prince of Garrison
Caitlin Prince of Garrison
Reese Kersten of Bryan

Great-granddaughter, Emma Grace Huffman of Garrison

Birth mother, Juanita Spain of Grand Prairie

Half-sister, Foylene Spain of Grand Prairie

Numerous cousins and nieces.

Wayne lived in Garrison, Texas for most of his life. He graduated from Garrison High School as a member of the Class of 1961. He attended Stephen F. Austin Sate University, where he claimed his finest achievement was meeting Elaine Mills, the love of his life, in Spanish class during their freshman year. Wayne and Elaine married June 20, 1964. He was the proud father of two sons and a daughter, then grandfather of 3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons, and last, but not least, he was a great-granddaughter's Pappy. He was and always will be an important factor in their lives. His most cherished titles in life were Husband, Daddy, Dad, or later "Pappy," and his role for those titles was larger than life.

Wayne earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from SFA in 1965 and his Masters Degree in Botany in 1967. While working on his Masters Degree, Wayne began his lifelong career in education, first as a Biology Lab Instructor at SFA and later as Biology Lab Coordinator at SFA. In 1968, he became the Biology Lab Coordinator at Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Texas. His career in public education began at Huntington ISD as a long-term sub for a dear friend’s maternity leave, and in 1976 he became a teacher at his own Alma Mater, Garrison ISD, teaching junior high life science and earth science. Wayne was then principal at Garrison Elementary and Middle School for four years. Farming was always in Wayne’s heart, and he left the world of education to start a dairy farm, but nothing could compare with the classroom, and he returned to teach at Garrison High School, teaching biology I, biology II, chemistry, physical science, dual credit Botany, dual credit Zoology, and physics. He was happy to share his love of all things "SCIENCE" with students, both eager and reluctant. Other occupations came and went during his lifetime, but teaching was his true passion. Wayne retired from Garrison ISD in 2005, after 34 years in education.

Wayne loved spending time with family and friends. Morning coffee time was often spent on the patio watching the birds with his wife, Elaine, while discussing the events of the upcoming day. Gardening was another passion, and he loved visiting with the various people that came to pick peas in his purple hull pea patch. He was so very proud that his son Scott followed in his farming footsteps and loved that his son Larry and daughter Denise followed in his teaching footsteps. Wayne could often be found in the bleachers of Garrison football games, cheering on the Bulldogs. Seeing his children and grandchildren play sports or participate in events would keep him on the road for years. It was not unusual for Wayne to attend a school event in Garrison one day and a T-Ball game in Bryan the next. He loved hunting and fishing and spending time outdoors, teaching his sons, grandchildren, and friends about all of the wonders that nature has to offer.

Always a teacher, Wayne never missed an opportunity to educate, so his last request was that his body be donated to UTMB Medical School in Galveston. His legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, students, and in his wish to continue to teach. He was proud to know that he was helping to further the education of a future doctor.

Visitation for Wayne will be at the Garrison First United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at 10:00am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Garrison First United Methodist Church Food Pantry or to the Society of St. Stephen at Garrison First United Methodist Church.