Sid Womack '79 April 6, 2024 1:37 PM updated: April 6, 2024 1:43 PM
Sid T. Womack
May 9, 1950 - January 22, 2022
Sid T. Womack, 71, of Russellville, AR, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at his home in Russellville, AR. The son of Donovan and Thelma Caffey Womack, he was born May 9, 1950, in Abilene, TX. Cherishing his memory are his wife, Karen King Womack; 2 daughters, Karah Altman (Jalyn), Salt Lake City, UT; and Ashlee Leavell (Joshua), Russellville; 2 granddaughters, Kennedee Raye Wilson and Lexi Grace Leavell; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Dorothy Reynolds King, Dover; a brother-in-law, Robin Reynolds King (Carol), Potomac, MD; niece, Emily H. King, Potomac, MD; nephew, Peter Montgomery King, Dallas, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents, Donovan and Thelma Womack of Anson, TX; grandparents HT and Pearl Caffey of Abilene, TX and Albert Sidney and Tommie McKinzie Womack of Anson; and Ray King of Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, AR.
He was a 1968 graduate of Anson High School in Abilene, and received a BA in 1972, at Abilene Christian University, a master's in education in 1974, through Sam Houston State University and completed his PhD in Education at Texas A&M University. He married the love of his life, Karen King, on May 19, 1972, in Huntsville, TX. Having lost his own father at age 19, he quickly came to see his beloved father-in-law, Oather Ray King, as a father figure. Much of Sid's life was patterned after Ray's example, both spiritually and professionally.
His long and distinguished career of service to his fellow man began in 1972, as band director with the Trinity Public Schools in Texas. While completing his training as an educator at Texas A&M, Sid taught fourth grade in nearby Madisonville, TX. He began his higher education career with Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK, in 1981. Sid came to Arkansas Tech University in 1986, and taught educational research and teacher preparation until his retirement in 2015. At his retirement celebration, Dr. David Bell related that Dr. Womack had over his career touched more than a million students through direct and student-teacher instruction.
Sid was active in the leadership of the National Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes Church of Christ youth training program, sharing his talents and helping to encourage and develop the next generation of church leaders in disciplines from song leading to preaching to music composition. As part of his commitment, he memorized 700 Old and New Testament Scriptures from memory in sequence - an effort that helped him for years after in other aspects of his personal ministry.
He was a member of the River Valley Beekeepers, River Valley HAM Radio Net where he served as Pope County weather-net coordinator, Southern Christian Home Board of Directors for 13 years, and Mision Para Cristo in Nicaragua. Sid brought HAM radio to Jinotega, Nicaragua. In Russellville, he was an active member of the Band of Brothers prayer group, and was a deacon at West Side Church of Christ for 17 years, having previously served in a similar capacity at the Cavitt Street Church of Christ in Bryan, Texas. Sid's love of the Lord took him to a variety of places, including Pope County Detention Center where he was an active part of the Jail Ministry with his wife until illness overtook him. Additionally, he taught Bible classes at Calico Rock Prison in Mountain Home, AR.
He was a member of the Dover Church of Christ where he served as an Elder from 2015 until his passing, Sunday School teacher, and director of education. He was an iterant-preacher at Mount Tabor, Texas, and Mill Creek (London, AR) Churches of Christ. He enjoyed homesteading, gardening, hunting, archery, camping, and actively participating in the raising of his children and grandchildren. Sid's life of service extended to the civic and educational realms. He was a member of the Russellville Kiwanis Club, Student Education Association (SEA) at Arkansas Tech University, Phi Delta Kappa educational professional association, and the Dover Chamber of Commerce. He contributed to his professional field with extensive research and publication, authoring and/or contributing to approximately 60 peer-reviewed articles and presentations during his career.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 28, 2022, at Dover Church of Christ. Darrel Solonka will officiate. Burial will be at Cedar Creek Cemetery in Jerusalem, AR by Humphrey Funeral Service. Pallbearers are Joshua Leavell, Jaylyn Altman, Allen Veasman, Brent Hottinger, Chris Loper. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Southern Christian Home, Mision Para Cristo, or the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.