Obituary for "Gene" Dwight Saur Jr.
Dwight Eugene Saur, Jr. (Gene) was born August 11, 1934, to Dwight and Margaret Saur in Shreveport, Louisiana. He had two older brothers, Henry, and Robert.
As a boy, Gene had a love for both music and sports. He learned to play the trombone and sing. He played basketball and was on the track team, but football soon became a favorite pastime. During his high school days, he played quarterback at Fair Park High School and led the team to win the 1952 Louisiana State Football Championship. He had lasting friendships from his high school days and regularly attended his high school reunions.
He was awarded a full football scholarship to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he majored in Sacred Music and after graduating, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League offered him a contract which he declined. While a student at Hardin-Simmons, he married Joyce Ray of Abilene, Texas.
In 1959, Gene entered the flight program of the United States Navy. He became a carrier-based jet fighter pilot who flew F-8’s and had over 100 take-offs and landings from carriers, which made him a member of the Centurion Club. He was stationed in the Mediterranean on the aircraft carrier, “Intrepid.” In October 1960 he earned his “Wings of Gold.” Gene was stationed in Texas, Florida, California, and Virginia and it was during his time in the Navy that Cindy and Dan were born to him and Joyce.
After leaving the Navy, he studied accounting at the University of Texas, Arlington, and became an accountant for George Culler and Company. From there, Ms. Elsa von Seggern hired Gene as her personal accountant, and he stayed with her as her financial advisor until she died and then served as Trustee of the E.F. von Seggern Charitable Foundation for the Performing Arts.
In 1966, Gene began a 28-year flying career with American Airlines. This occupation allowed him time to care for Joyce who had a terminal illness and to work for Ms. von Seggern on his days off which he continued into his retirement. When he retired from American Airlines in 1994, he was a Captain, flying the MD-80.
Gene enjoyed learning new things through books and courses. He loved all things beautiful and took a photography course so that he could capture the beauty on film. He also raised bees and marketed the honey as Saur Honey. He was a great handyman and had a workshop full of tools which he used to fix cars, the sprinkler system, do the plumbing and other things around the house.
Gene loved the Vocal Majority (Men’s Chorus) and we enjoyed having season tickets to their performances for many years.
Gene had a genuine interest in people. He cared for others and prayed for his family, friends and people he didn’t even know. He generously supported a variety of missionaries and mission organizations for many years. One of his heart’s greatest desires was that people would come to know and understand God’s great love for them through Jesus.
He loved God’s Word and regularly followed the One Year Bible Reading Plan. He also led his family to memorize the scripture through participation in the Bible Memory Association. As a faithful member of Irving Bible Church, he served there as a deacon and an elder. He believed that Christians should be good stewards of their God-given resources and taught the Crown Ministries Financial Management Course.
Sometime after his wife Joyce died, he met Bonnie Roper and they married on January 7, 1989. Gene and Bonnie attended Irving Bible Church and later, First Baptist Church Dallas, where they taught the Crown Ministries Course again and were long time members of The President’s Class.
Gene struggled with various health issues in his later years, the most serious being Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He was a hospice patient at home for over two years and passed away peacefully on February 6, 2022.
He is predeceased by Joyce Ray Saur, his wife of 30 years, his parents Dwight & Margaret Saur, and his brothers Robert and Henry Saur. He is survived by Bonnie Saur, his wife of 33 years, his sister-in-law Jere Saur, his daughter Cindy Saur Buntain (Hamish), his son Dan Saur (Lisa) and his stepson Tim Roper (Holly).
The Bible says, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8). We are thankful for Gene’s life and faithful service to God, his family and others. We know he is safe with Jesus and is now living life as it was truly meant to be!
We would like to thank Nurse Jae, Aide Otila, and Chaplain Daniel and other Vitas Hospice staff for their care and support. We would also like to thank the many friends, neighbors and church members who have loved and encouraged us during these days. God has blessed us richly with each one of you.
Gene’s service will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Truett Chapel at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, 1707 San Jacinto Street, Dallas, Texas. Parking is free and is right across the street from the chapel. To View The Memorial Service for Dwight Saur Please Click Here
In lieu of flowers, you may wish to send a financial gift in his honor to Dallas Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 734215, Dallas, TX 75373-4215 (or this link: Secured.DTS.edu/donate/online) or to Texas Baptist Men (a disaster relief organization), 5351 Catron Drive, Dallas, TX 75227 (or use this link: TexasBaptistMen.org/donate) or the charity of your choice, designating it in honor of Gene Saur.
As a boy, Gene had a love for both music and sports. He learned to play the trombone and sing. He played basketball and was on the track team, but football soon became a favorite pastime. During his high school days, he played quarterback at Fair Park High School and led the team to win the 1952 Louisiana State Football Championship. He had lasting friendships from his high school days and regularly attended his high school reunions.
He was awarded a full football scholarship to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he majored in Sacred Music and after graduating, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League offered him a contract which he declined. While a student at Hardin-Simmons, he married Joyce Ray of Abilene, Texas.
In 1959, Gene entered the flight program of the United States Navy. He became a carrier-based jet fighter pilot who flew F-8’s and had over 100 take-offs and landings from carriers, which made him a member of the Centurion Club. He was stationed in the Mediterranean on the aircraft carrier, “Intrepid.” In October 1960 he earned his “Wings of Gold.” Gene was stationed in Texas, Florida, California, and Virginia and it was during his time in the Navy that Cindy and Dan were born to him and Joyce.
After leaving the Navy, he studied accounting at the University of Texas, Arlington, and became an accountant for George Culler and Company. From there, Ms. Elsa von Seggern hired Gene as her personal accountant, and he stayed with her as her financial advisor until she died and then served as Trustee of the E.F. von Seggern Charitable Foundation for the Performing Arts.
In 1966, Gene began a 28-year flying career with American Airlines. This occupation allowed him time to care for Joyce who had a terminal illness and to work for Ms. von Seggern on his days off which he continued into his retirement. When he retired from American Airlines in 1994, he was a Captain, flying the MD-80.
Gene enjoyed learning new things through books and courses. He loved all things beautiful and took a photography course so that he could capture the beauty on film. He also raised bees and marketed the honey as Saur Honey. He was a great handyman and had a workshop full of tools which he used to fix cars, the sprinkler system, do the plumbing and other things around the house.
Gene loved the Vocal Majority (Men’s Chorus) and we enjoyed having season tickets to their performances for many years.
Gene had a genuine interest in people. He cared for others and prayed for his family, friends and people he didn’t even know. He generously supported a variety of missionaries and mission organizations for many years. One of his heart’s greatest desires was that people would come to know and understand God’s great love for them through Jesus.
He loved God’s Word and regularly followed the One Year Bible Reading Plan. He also led his family to memorize the scripture through participation in the Bible Memory Association. As a faithful member of Irving Bible Church, he served there as a deacon and an elder. He believed that Christians should be good stewards of their God-given resources and taught the Crown Ministries Financial Management Course.
Sometime after his wife Joyce died, he met Bonnie Roper and they married on January 7, 1989. Gene and Bonnie attended Irving Bible Church and later, First Baptist Church Dallas, where they taught the Crown Ministries Course again and were long time members of The President’s Class.
Gene struggled with various health issues in his later years, the most serious being Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He was a hospice patient at home for over two years and passed away peacefully on February 6, 2022.
He is predeceased by Joyce Ray Saur, his wife of 30 years, his parents Dwight & Margaret Saur, and his brothers Robert and Henry Saur. He is survived by Bonnie Saur, his wife of 33 years, his sister-in-law Jere Saur, his daughter Cindy Saur Buntain (Hamish), his son Dan Saur (Lisa) and his stepson Tim Roper (Holly).
The Bible says, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8). We are thankful for Gene’s life and faithful service to God, his family and others. We know he is safe with Jesus and is now living life as it was truly meant to be!
We would like to thank Nurse Jae, Aide Otila, and Chaplain Daniel and other Vitas Hospice staff for their care and support. We would also like to thank the many friends, neighbors and church members who have loved and encouraged us during these days. God has blessed us richly with each one of you.
Gene’s service will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Truett Chapel at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, 1707 San Jacinto Street, Dallas, Texas. Parking is free and is right across the street from the chapel. To View The Memorial Service for Dwight Saur Please Click Here
In lieu of flowers, you may wish to send a financial gift in his honor to Dallas Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 734215, Dallas, TX 75373-4215 (or this link: Secured.DTS.edu/donate/online) or to Texas Baptist Men (a disaster relief organization), 5351 Catron Drive, Dallas, TX 75227 (or use this link: TexasBaptistMen.org/donate) or the charity of your choice, designating it in honor of Gene Saur.