Funeral services for Luther Vawter, age 96, of San Antonio, will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, May 26, 2016 in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mr. Vawter died Saturday, May 21, 2016 in a San Antonio care facility.

Luther Frederick Vawter was born on February 5, 1920 in Lincoln, Arkansas to Travis Long and Hattie B. (Rich) Vawter.  He married Merle Marie Brown on January 25, 1946.  She preceded him in death in 1978.

Luther was injured in a train car accident in 1949 and spent years in the hospital with bone grafts to save his leg. He worked as a carpenter along with farming and raising cattle on a small farm.  Luther lived with his daughter Karen for many years after becoming a widower.  Many people knew him as “Arkie” a nickname he picked up in the Army since he came from Arkansas.

Luther is survived by his daughters, Shelia Marie Vawter Rodert and Karen Lou Vawter-King; three grandchildren, Emzy Allen King, Chrisitine Elaine Rodert Carr, and Michael Anthony King; a sister, Lena B. Vawter Smith and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a daughter, Janice Elaine Vawter; his siblings, Myrtle Vawter, Sallie Viola Vawter, Mable Vawter Yingst, Floyd Vawter, William “Bill” Hardy Vawter, Icy Oneda Vawter Davis, Maggie Marie Vawter Watson, Minnie Pearl Vawter, Leonard Carl Vawter, John Travis “J.T.” Vawter.

Condolences, memories and tributes can be offered to the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.