Conway Taliaferro Wharton, Jr.

Conway Taliaferro Wharton, Jr. was born in Bulape, Belgian Congo, (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), March 20, 1920, to the Reverend Dr. Conway T. Wharton, Sr. and Ethel Susan Taylor Wharton, who served as missionaries to the Belgian Congo for several years. He attended Missionary Schools in the Congo for his first and second grades. He moved to the U.S.A. in 1928, and continued his education in Sherman, Texas where he lettered in football at Sherman High School. He entered Austin College, Sherman, Texas, in 1938 and graduated in 1942. He lettered in football and basketball at Austin College. He enrolled in Austin Seminary in 1942 and graduated in 1945. It was while he was in the Seminary that he first saw Ann Windrow singing in the First Presbyterian Church choir and told his sister Linda “that's the girl that I'm going to marry.”

June, 1945, was a busy month for Conway. He graduated from Seminary, was ordained and received into Central Texas Presbytery June 20, 1945. June 25, 1945, he was married to Ann Windrow at the Seminary Chapel. Then he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a chaplain. He was sent to California to serve and this was their honeymoon trip.

After he returned from the service he served First Church in Natchitoches, La. Next, he served as Associate Minister to Dr. Bob Jones at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth, Texas. He served First Presbyterian Church, Edinburg, Texas. He served First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas, as Associate Minister to Dr. Charles King, until Dr. King retired. He became the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi, Texas, where he built the church and rebuilt it after it was demolished in Hurricane "Celia" in 1970. Next, he moved to San Marcos, Texas and served the First Presbyterian Church. He also served the churches in Luling and Lockhart, Texas, while he was serving the church in San Marcos. His last pastorates were the churches in Lockhart, Texas, and Luling, Texas before he retired.

He also served as Moderator of Western Texas, South Texas, and Central Texas Presbyteries.

He later became an interim pastor for the Kingsville Presbyterian Church before accepting a call to the Wimberley Presbyterian Church, of which he was made the Pastor Emeritus when he left.

Conway's lovely wife Ann was a wonderful helpmate and mother and they had three children together: Conway (Betty) Wharton; Teresa (Andrew) Channer; Bonnie (Steve) Emery. Conway and Ann were blessed with ten grandchildren: Britney Wharton, Mikaelia (Jonathan) McKinney, Kendra (Brian) Delaney and Conway Wharton (Megan Colson); Jennifer Channer, Laurie (Jonathan) Davis, Kristy (Jonathan) Roach and Carrie (Mike) Skow; Michael (Virginia) Emery and Alison Rose Emery. They were also blessed with eleven great grandchildren: Briteny Wharton's sons Cory and Troy Butts; Gavin and Kaylee McKinney; Charlotte Davis; Ben and Emily Roach; Peyton and Kylie Skow; Evelyn and Hazel Emery.

Conway was preceded in death by his wife Ann, his daughter Teresa, his sister Linda McDanald, and his brothers Lawrence and James.

His outstanding characteristics were his "outgoing personality”. He was always a happy person, outstanding leader and never defeated no matter what happened. Though he wasn't a "Holy Joe" he was a man of integrity and his morals were above reproach. He always defended and cared for the downtrodden, the needy and the underdog. He has driven across the state of Texas to help people more times than we can count. He's a "shining" example of what it means to be a Christian and he knew that "God's in His Heaven and all's right with the world."

His three outstanding traits were "Love", "Stamina" and "Optimism", but the greatest of these was "Love."

A memorial service is scheduled to be held at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church at 10:00 on Saturday, August 28. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas 78666, 512-353-4311 ~ www.penningtonfuneralhome.com.