Obituary of Quinton Colwell

Memorial services for Quinton T. Colwell were held at 10:30 AM, Monday, February 6, 2006, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on 44th and Memphis Avenue in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Will Cotton conducted the service, assisted by Rev. Bruce Parks. Graveside services were held in Resthaven Cemetery at 9:00 AM, February 6th, viewing and reception of friends was at St. Luke's Fellowship Hall Sunday, February 5th. The body was in state at Abell Funeral Home in Abernathy, TX, Saturday, with family visitation, February 4th, as well. Services were under the direction of Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy, TX. Quinton was born in Winters, Texas, in 1922. He attended Lakeview Schools through the 8th grade and high school in Petersburg where he ran track and played basketball, graduating in 1940. He entered the Army in January, 1943, and was sent to Camp Swift for basic training during World War II. After subsequent testing and processing, he was given a choice of pre-med or engineering training. He pursued engineering through the Combat Engineers and was sent to Purdue University for a year before going to the European Theater. He was stationed in Holland and Germany. During his service he received the bronze star. Upon his return from the service, Quinton continued his education at Texas Tech University in Engineering. He graduated in 1951 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. At that time, he began working for Continental Engineers, which later became H.N. Roberts & Associates. He married Vivian V. (Vicki) Martin on May 2, 1954. He became licensed as a professional engineer in 1956, and continued to work for the firm as Chief Design Engineer after it became Hicks & Ragland. In Dec. 1961, he started Colwell, Wentworth, & Associates. The firm later became Quinton T. Colwell & Associates, Inc. The consulting engineering firm served several southwest area municipal utilities during their formative years. These included Lubbock Power and Light and regional Rural Electrification Administration Electric Cooperatives in Texas, New Mexico, & Oklahoma.. The firm engaged primarily in planning transmission and generation systems and also participated in renovations of the Lubbock and Midland airports. He was an innovator in the improvement of electric reliability and the use of computers as an aid in long-range planning and decision-making. As well, he pioneered scientific methods in developing irrigation wells, leading to the founding of Water Survey, Inc., complimenting his love of the West Texas land. He was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church for 48 years, where He served in numerous places among which were board member, part-time teacher, lay leader and certified lay speaker. He was active in the Llano Estacado Emmaus Community, and assisted in the first Emmaus Walks of the Cross Country Emmaus Community. He was a former member of the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the Lubbock Knife and Fork Club. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; son, Kim K. and wife Carol, of Lubbock; daughter, Tanda Trussell and husband, Rev. Danny Trussell of Skellytown; son, Rev. Ronald K. Colwell of Lubbock; and daughter, Rene' Colwell of Lubbock; granddaughters, Lisa, Lori and Jennifer Trussell; grandsons, Nathan, Brent, Tandy and Justin Colwell. One sister, Wilma Bristow, of Abernathy and several nieces and nephews, also, survive him. Memorials may be given to St. Luke's United Methodist Church at 3717 44th St., Lubbock, Texas 79413 or the American Cancer Society at 3411 73rd St., Lubbock, Texas 79423. Abell Funeral Home