Donald Williams Cauble passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Austin, Texas at age 92. Don was born in Elbow, Texas, a rural community near Big Spring. The youngest of six children, he did not take to the farming and ranching lifestyle as well as his other siblings. This may have influenced him to be the first in his family to attend college. He initially attended the College of Marshall in east Texas before going off to serve as an infantryman in General Patton’s Third Army in World War II. He was wounded three times and received the Purple Heart. After returning from the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill to complete a degree at Hardin-Simmons University. While visiting a pastor friend in Ft. Worth, he met a young lady who was serving as the church secretary. That young lady was Falby Hollomon, whom he would later marry on February 23, 1951. He pastored two churches in New Mexico, but felt the need to complete the seminary training he had begun at Golden Gate Seminary. He enrolled in Southwestern Seminary while pastoring his third church in Balsora, Texas. Additional training came in the form of getting his Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Memorial Hospital in San Antonio. His education, training, and personal experiences provided him with unique qualities to serve as the Chaplain at the Abilene State School where he worked for 20 years until his retirement in 1986. He loved the residents and employees of the State School (which is now called the Abilene State Supported Living Center). The insecurities that he had felt as a young pastor were gone; he was energized to serve and comfort the School’s residents and employees and their extended families. After retiring from the State School, Don turned his energies to other ministries. He and Falby volunteered with the Mission Service Corps of the Southern Baptist Convention by going on extended assignments to Zimbabwe, Norway, American Samoa, Thailand, Cold Bay, Alaska and Huntsville, Texas. Don was also involved in Emmaus Walks and the Kairos prison ministry. Don’s faith was a source of inspiration and the core of his existence throughout his working and retirement years. Plus, there was tennis. Lots and lots of tennis. Don was once described as having a sophomore backhand, but senior legs. His form may not have been the greatest, but he could spend all day on the court. And often did. Don was also a father and grandfather. Depending on what decade (or century) you engaged Don in conversation, you would either get an earful of the latest accomplishments of his tennis-playing son or stories of the unbearable cuteness of his twin grandchildren. He loved his family deeply, including his oldest son, Keith, who was severely disabled, both physically and mentally. It was, perhaps, the experience of being a father to Keith and being father to another son who died shortly after birth that gave Don a unique ability to relate to and comfort the parents of residents of the State School. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Jim P. and Virginia Cauble, two sisters, three brothers, his wife, Falby, and two sons, Hollomon Keith and Ron Craig. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Ky and Lisa Cauble of Austin, two grandchildren, Grace and Michael Cauble of Austin, and extended family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Abilene Volunteer Services Council at 2501 Maple Street, Abilene, Texas 79602 (www.abilenevsc.org). Or, just go play tennis with some friends. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm on Monday, May 29th, at North’s Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange Street, Abilene, Texas. A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, May 30th, in the chapel on the campus of the Abilene State Supported Living Center. The main address of the Living Center is 2501 Maple Street. The chapel is located at the intersection of 3rd Street and Service Avenue.