Clarence E. Cardwell, Jr., 91, passed away peacefully in Big Spring, Texas on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. The family will be accepting guests at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland on Wednesday, November 26th, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held on Friday, November 28th, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel at 1:00 p.m.

Clarence was born 7 March 1923 in Troy, Pike County, Alabama to Clarence E. and Ruth Somerset Cardwell. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and attended Carleton College in Minnesota during training. He saw fierce combat in the fall of 1944 with the 44th Infantry Division in the Vosges Mountains

for the liberation of Alsace-Lorraine.

 

On the G.I. Bill, he attended Auburn University and was awarded a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1947. Shortly after he was hired by Atlantic Refining Co. On 18 December 1948, Clarence married Marjorie Goode at the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas. The couple moved to Midland, Te

xas the following month. They became members of the First Methodist Church family in 1949.

In 1952, Clarence and several Atlantic employees pooled their money to form the Midland Atlantic Federal Credit Union to help a fellow employee buy a house. This credit union, now the My Community Federal Credit Union, has grown from about seven members to more than 27,000 members and five branches.

 

Clarence filled assignments elsewhere in Tulsa, OK and Denver, CO and returned to Midland in 1976 as District Manager of ARCO. He was appointed Vice President in 1978 and retired August of 1985. Clarence was very involved in community life and served on various boards including the Midland Chamber of Commerce, Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, Inc., Midland Community Theater, Permian Basin Oil Show, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. He was president of the Permian Basin International Oil Show in 1988. Avocations included hunting, fishing, floriculture and vegetable gardening, birding, golfing, cooking “Southern comfort food”, singing hymns, playing guitar, and genealogical studies.

Living family members include his beloved wife, Marjorie; sons, William E. Cardwell of California and Robert Cardwell of Idaho; grandson, Hillary Cardwell and his wife Magdalena Aue Cardwell; and great-granddaughter, Penelope “Penny” Cardwell all of Wiesbaden, Germany.

 

Clarence lived with great charity, Christian grace and temperance, compassion for others, humility, dignity, and tolerance. He is missed.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.