Lecil Alton Chandler

Services for Lecil Alton Chandler, 90 of Tyler, will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. Paul Powell and Rev. John McKellar officiating. Burial will follow at Cana Cemetery in Canton under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Chandler passed away October 18, 2013 at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He was born in Wills Point to Ernest Edward and Eula Mae Giles Chandler. Mr. Chandler attended Federal Institute School of Business and Southern Methodist University and was a public accountant for over 60 years. He enjoyed all aspects of business and took a personal interest in all of his clients whether it was how to run their business or advice on whatever they needed. Lecil was the one person everyone knew that they could come to and rely on for advice and loving care. He was a father figure to many of his clients and their children. He and his family became the guardian of and took responsibility for the care of many widows and elderly people. Lecil met Barbara Driggers while a member at East Tyler Baptist Church. After marriage they moved to Dallas where they were members of First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff, East Grand Baptist Church of Dallas and Lake Highland Baptist Church. After moving to the Tyler area they became members of First Baptist Church of Lindale, Antioch Baptist Church of Sand Flat, Calvary Baptist Church, Sylvania Baptist Church, Pleasant Hills Baptist Church and the Woods Baptist Church, all of Tyler. He served as an ordained deacon, Sunday school teacher and in many other capacities in all of the churches he attended. He was a devoted Christian and enjoyed studying the Bible. His whole life was a testimony of his faith and he freely helped anyone in need as they crossed his path. He and his wife set up two endowment funds in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Tyler. They were supporters of the Salvation Army, Gideons and a broad spectrum of Christian and philanthropic causes. Lecil was a WWII veteran having served in Communications in the U.S. Army. He was part of the invasion at Normandy on D-Day and received 5 Bronze Stars, a Bronze Medal and many other medals for his bravery in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He wrote about these experiences in his autobiography. Lecil loved family and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed football and most other sports. He was an avid SMU Mustang, Aggie, Longhorn and Patriots fan. He enjoyed fishing, ranching, gardening and investing in the stock market and land. Lecil was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Eula Chandler, three brothers, Douglas, Curtis and Joe and his wife of 66 years, Barbara L. Chandler. He is survived by his loving family including his son, Donald A Chandler of Tyler; sister, Joyce Billingsley of Keller; and grandson, Christian A. Chandler of Dallas; and 7 nieces, 3 nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. Visitation is scheduled from 6:00 –7:30 PM on Monday, October 21, 2013 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. If desired, memorials may be made to the Lecil and Barbara Chandler Professorship Endowment in Computer Science or the Lecil and Barbara Chandler Research Endowment in Computer Science, both at the University of Texas at Tyler

Lecil Alton Chandler

July 7, 1923 - October 18, 2013