Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dallas Morning News on Jan. 29, 2015

Wayland Dean Oradat(1927 - 2015)
ORADAT, Wayland Dean Wayland Dean Oradat passed away into his Lords arms, surrounded by his loved ones on January 26, 2015. He was a resident at Bon Secours Maria Manor, St. Petersburg, Fl. He is survived by his wife Nancy, and children: Cecil (Denise), Gary (Sherry), Debbie (Glen), Ron (Christie), Carol (Brian). He left a legacy of 9 grandchildren: Marc, Chris, Nathan, Ashley, Jason, Ryan Joshua, Alysa, Bryce and Garrett. He is also survived by his two sisters, Marilyn Bird and Genevieve Jones, both of whom he loved dearly. Wayland was born September 21, 1927 in Electra, Texas to Frank and Lottie Mae Oradat. He was youngest of 4 children - siblings Frank, Marilyn, and Genevieve. He left Electra just shy of his 18th birthday to join the U.S. Navy in 1945, and served until 1948, leaving the service as a Fire Control Man 3rd Class. Upon discharge, he headed to College Station, where he entered Texas A&M University, and majored in Civil Engineering. In 1951, he graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree. Although he never got to see his beloved Aggies win a National championship, he never wavered in his belief that it would one day happen. He began his career as a Professional Consulting Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Worth Texas in 1951. He moved to Dallas in 1956 to work for Forrest and Cotton, Inc in, where he became a specialist in water resource design (dams, reservoirs, pump stations) and rose to position of Vice President. In 1988 he joined Jones and Boyd Inc as Vice President of Water Resources. He retired in 1995 at the age of 68. Wayland was a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi. He was a member of Texas Society of Professional Engineers, where he was named 'Engineer of the Year for 1983". He was also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, and American Society of Civil Engineers. Wayland was of a man of sincere, deep faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. " His two passions where his faith and his family. Of all his accomplishments and gifts, he felt his greatest blessing was his family and the fact that he had five children who were all professing Christians, all college graduates and self-supporting. He would say "what more could a parent ask for?" A few of his favorite Bible verses were Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 24:15"..Choose you this day whom you will serve; ..as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Romans 8:28 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord".