Louis Tindle Dees, 92, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at ECM Hospital in Florence, Alabama. A private family graveside service, with military honor guard, was held on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, at Greenview Memorial Park in Florence, Alabama. Officiating was Dr. John Brock. Pallbearers were Jim Rigsby and Barrett Gilbreath, grandsons; Mike Albretsen, grandson-in-law; and Charles Faulkner and Donald Ebert, nephews. A visitation and celebration of Louis’ life will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at Highland Baptist Church in Florence, Alabama. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon with the memorial service at noon. Dr. John Brock Sr. and Reverend Chris Underwood will officiate. Soloist is Mr. Harlan Dodson and pianist is Kim Nelson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Missions Fund of Highland Baptist Church, 219 Simpson St., Florence, AL 35630.
Louis was born on Oct. 10, 1924, in Atlanta, Texas to Fred and Nellie Dees, the sixth of nine children. His family moved to Texarkana in 1936 where he graduated from Texas High School in 1941. Louis then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November of 1942. After serving at several bases in the U.S., he served in Guam with a B-29 Bomber Group. He returned home in February of 1946.
In May of 1946, Louis went to work at Red River Arsenal in Texarkana. In March of 1947, Louis married Millie Jo Harper who had moved to Texarkana from Nashville, Arkansas. In the ensuing years, until Dec. 3, 1982, when he retired, Louis and Millie had three daughters, Connie, Carol and Cathy, and one son, Louis Jr.
Louis transferred around the country working for the Atomic Energy Commission, the Safeguard System Command, NASA, the Corp of Engineers, and the Environmental Protective Agency. When Millie retired in 1994, they returned to Texarkana so Millie could take care of her mother. Louis was active in churches wherever they lived and was an active deacon at Central Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tennessee. He was also an active Kiwanian and volunteered at Wadley Hospital and the Friendship Center in Texarkana. In May of 2008, Louis and Millie moved to Florence, Alabama where he was an active member of Highland Baptist Church. He was married to Millie for 63 years until her death in June of 2010.
Louis is survived by his daughters, Connie (Jimmy) Rigsby, Toney, Alabama, Carol (Sammy) Gilbreath, Florence, Alabama, and Cathy (Larry) Hipps, Houston, Texas, and sister, Mary Nell Ebert, Arlington, Texas. He also leaves behind six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Nellie Dees; wife, Millie; son, Lou Jr.; granddaughter, Brianne Carol Gilbreath; great-granddaughters, Reid Hardy Gilbreath and McAdory Harper Gilbreath; brothers; J.W., Eddie, and Donald; and sisters, Geneva Christine, Freddie Burkett, Ruby Kyle, and Betty Butler Watson.
An online guest book may be viewed and signed at greenviewmemorial.com.
Arrangements are by Greenview Funeral Home.
