Alvin’s great-grandfather William Wren was brother to Nicholas Wren, the Texan war hero mentioned several times in the memoirs of Noah Smithwick, “The Evolution of a State.”

There was no braver or better man in the service than Lieutenant Nicholas Wren. I know not whence he came, nor whither he went, but had I been sent on a perilous mission, I know of no man I would have chosen before him to bear me company.

Noah Smithwick, “The Evolution of a State, or Recollections of Old Texas Days”

Nicholas and his brother William are solid brick walls in many a Wren researcher genealogy. The loss of Mr. Alvin Wren is a sad break in our tenuous link to the past.

His grandson kindly sent me a link to this obituary:

Alvin Lee Wren, 78, died peacefully Thursday, September 20, 2007, at his home.

He was born in El Dorado to Ollie Izora (Duggar) and James Milam Wren. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1946, and belonged to the Delta Sigma fraternity. He was a businessman and entrepreneur. Among his businesses he either owned or co-owned at one time are Wren Realty, El Do Plastics, Plastic Sign Suppliers, and Signs and License Plates. Alvin loved the outdoors, especially his gardening and fishing on his beloved North Two and his nephew’s Forever Farm (which he named). He made an annual trip each year for over 50 years to Bear Creek Lake with friends and family. He was El Dorado’s Outstanding Jaycee of the Year in 1954.

While he was able, he loved traveling and taking his family and friends on vacations. Some of his favorite places to visit were relatives in South Louisiana, relatives at the Red River Ranch in Idaho, Bill Lindsey’s in Heber Springs, and casinos.

Alvin will be remembered for his excellent cooking, hosting, and distinctive laugh. He was the best cook and if you did not believe it, he would be glad to tell you. He loved telling funny stories from his life adventures.

Survivors include two daughters, Lynda Wren Cheek and April Wren; one son, David Lee Wren; one sister, Altha Dean Nash; two granddaughters, Carrie Oswalt and Mary Wade all of El Dorado; two grandsons, Odie Blackmon of Nashville, Tennessee, and Sean Wren of Knoxville, Tennessee; and eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, J. Milam Wren, and one sister, Edith Wren Reed.

He was especially fond of his trusted Hospice nurse, Andy Guinn, who he only knew a short time but looked forward to his visits each day.

The funeral will be at10:00am Monday in Young’s Chapel. Burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.

Visitation is Sunday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Memorials may be made to Life Touch Hospice, 2301 Champagnolle Rd., El Dorado, AR 71730, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Burn Unit, P. O. Drawer 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203-9984 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Obituary: “Alvin Wren,” Youngs Funeral Home, El Dorado, Arkansas, downloaded 2 January 2008.

Bobby Joe passed away in 2000, but I wanted to post the notice of his death here for all the people who came to know him through the pages of Wren Kin.

A WREN HAS FLOWN HOME
Bobby Joe Wren
1929-2000

Bobby Joe Wren, 70, of El Paso died Sunday (Jan 2, 2000). Services will be private. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; his sons, Robert Allen Wren, Melvin Russell Wren, and Lee Roy Wren; his daughter, Marilyn M. Taylor; his brother Worth S. Wren; his sister, Evelyn Ashey, nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was a retired operator delivery man for Southern Pacific Pipeline and a Navy veteran. He was also on the board of directors for Parks and Recreation and lived in El Paso for 41 years. memorial contributions may be made to Parkland High School Athletics. Arrangements are by Hillcrest Funeral Home.

“The remains of Seaman Second Class Bobby J. Wren, were committed to the sea At 0850 22 April, 2000 in a ceremony onboard USS David R. Ray.

Military Headstone placed in the Wren family plot at the Hico Cemetery in Hico, Texas.

Favorite Song: Suppertime by Gov. Jimmie Davis.

Favorite Bible Verses:
John 3:16 For God so loved
The world, that He gave his
Only begotten Son, that
Whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have
everlasting life.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life.

Source: from a photocopied memorial sheet for Bobby Joe Wren. Original is in the possession of Ruth B. Wren.

We regret to inform you this gentleman has passed away.

February 13, 2007

Mr. Wren

Funeral services for Worth S. Wren Sr., 83, of Lampasas were Feb. 11, 2007, at Briggs-Gamel-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel in Lampasas with his son, Carl Wren, officiating. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas.

Mr. Wren died Feb. 7 from complications of cancer.

He was born April 25, 1923, in Somervell County, between Glen Rose and Granbury, to Olar W. and Flora Elizabeth Wren Sr.

Mr. Wren grew up in Hamilton County and attended school in Hico, where he graduated from high school in 1942.

He joined the U.S. Army in January 1943 and was assigned to the 483rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion. As a non-commissioned officer, Mr. Wren served as a half-track commander and gunner. Among several assignments, his unit was deployed to provide anti-aircraft cover for units of Gen. George Patton’s Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Wren fought in several campaigns, including five major battles across France, Belgium, Austria and Germany.

In December 1945, Mr. Wren was honorably discharged at Camp Fannin and traveled to Lampasas to visit relatives.

On Dec. 15, 1945, he met Johnnie Mae Lunsford, and they were married on Dec. 22, 1945.

Mr. Wren began his career with AT&SF Railway Co. in 1948. He started as a Lampasas section gang trackman and worked his way into management while using his G.I. Bill education benefits to study basic railroad engineering, accounting and other job-related courses at night.
He retired from Santa Fe in 1982, after serving as the roadmaster responsible for track maintenance from San Angelo to Presidio.

Mr. and Mrs. Wren called Lampasas home from 1945-69, despite the family often traveling with him on his foreman job assignments across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri in 1950-54.

In 1969, the couple moved to San Angelo when Mr. Wren was promoted to roadmaster.

In 1992, the Wrens returned to Lampasas to be nearer many of their relatives.

Mr. Wren was a member of First Baptist Church of Lampasas and Hillcrest Baptist Church in San Angelo.

He enjoyed golf, fishing, gardening and hunting, and was an ardent fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns.

He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Mae Wren; by sons Worth Wren Jr. and wife, Nelda, of Fort Worth, James Wren of San Angelo, and Carl Wren and wife, Katherine, of Manchaca; a daughter, Ann Harmon, and husband, Bruce, of Kempner; nine grandchildren, Clinton Wren and Johnnie Jacqueline Wren of Fort Worth, James Wren Jr., Michael Wren, Christopher Wren and Jennifer White, all of Rowlett, Kaulean Harmon of Arlington; and Claire Wren and Kara Wren of Manchaca; and one great-grandson, Bryce White, of Rowlett.

The family requested memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or to the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Briggs-Gamel-Wilcox Funeral Directors of Lampasas.

The Lampasas Dispatch Record, P.O. Box 631, Lampasas, Tx 76550-2940, 512/556-6262, 512/556-3278 (fax).

If you have obituaries or other records you would like to share with other Wren/Wrenn/Ren/Renn descendants, please contact me.