Roll Call Tribute

Wayne David Dirks 

March 12, 1934 - May 6, 2025 

Wayne David Dirks passed into the arms of Jesus on the morning of Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was 91 years young. Born on March 12, 1934, in a farmhouse in Harvey County, Kansas, Wayne was the third child of Nora Francis Josephine Rush Dirks and Milton David Dirks. He leaves behind his beloved children, Myron David Dirks and Wayne Keith Dirks, of Beeville, TX, his grandson Brock Dirks Hudson, of Houston, TX, and great-grandsons Holden Brock Hudson and Brooks Dirks Hudson. He is reunited in peace with his soulmate, Ida Mary McGuffin Dirks (2014), his late children, Mary Dirks Hudson (2012) and James Wade Dirks (2019), as well as his parents and siblings, Myron Dale Dirks and Evelyn Dirks Garrett. He was a constant source of love, humor, and unwavering support for them all.

At the age of one and a half, Wayne's family moved to Tuleta, Texas, where he spent his youth. He graduated from Pettus High School in 1952 at the age of 18 and proudly contributed as center and linebacker on the school's undefeated 1951 football team.

Wayne continued his education at Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and an intramural flag football champion. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in Geological Engineering and, upon graduation, was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.

On August 5, 1956, Wayne accomplished his greatest achievement and married the love of his life, Ida Mary McGuffin. Following their wedding reception, they embarked on a journey to Purcell, Oklahoma, where Wayne began his career with General Geophysical, working for Pure Oil Company. He often recounted the unique challenges of conducting fieldwork in a dry state, navigating landowners who were more concerned with protecting their hidden stills than granting survey permits. After several months in Oklahoma, Wayne transitioned to Pan American Petroleum Company in Lafayette, Louisiana, working as an Exploration Geophysicist. To fulfill his military commitment, he then served at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he was trained as an officer for a Nike Ajax Surface to Air Missile Battery. Wayne and Ida had David, their oldest son, shortly after followed by James, Keith, and Mary.

A proud oilman, Wayne experienced significant success throughout his career. He was a part of many successful ventures, including co-founding Solatex. Under his leadership, Solatex achieved considerable success in discovering several oil and gas fields across Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Wayne was a savvy businessman and invested much of his savings in land in the country or real estate opportunities in the local community. Following his retirement from the oil industry, Wayne and Ida embarked on a new chapter, returning to Beeville to establish and run the Nueces Inn Bed and Breakfast, which quickly became a Beeville landmark. Even in his later years, Wayne maintained his competitive edge and passion for athletics, becoming a fierce presence on the Beeville tennis courts.

While Wayne’s athletic and professional accomplishments are significant, Wayne leaves an even greater legacy through the lives he has touched. Wayne was a man defined by his unwavering sense of duty and responsibility. He consistently prioritized the needs of his loved ones, offering his support without hesitation, regardless of the personal cost. He was a man of honor and had a positive attitude regardless of the task at hand.

For those who knew Wayne, his love for God was evident in the way he lived and the values he held dear. This deep connection to his faith brought him a genuine peace about passing on, secure in his belief in eternal life.

Wayne's life was marked by his loyalty, toughness, and a positive attitude. The stories he shared reflected a life lived fully and with a keen sense of appreciation and humor. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.