Oliver Bowman Mcmahan

Oliver Bowman McMahan of Woodway, Texas, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 23, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, May 22, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Oliver was born February 13, 1928, in Waco’s Hillcrest Hospital, to Oliver Bowman McMahan and Lorene Patty McMahan. He was a descendant of a pioneer Texas family, who migrated from Kentucky in 1837 and became prominent early Texans, his great grandfather chartering the First National Bank in Texas in 1867. Oliver attended Sanger Avenue, West Jr. High and Waco High schools, graduating in January 1945. He enrolled at Texas Tech at age 16 and played in the Red Raider band and competed on the debate team. When his mother became ill and died in January 1947, he returned to Waco to be with his dad and enrolled in Baylor, graduating in 1949. While in Baylor, he began his career in the life insurance business at Amicable Life Insurance Company where he met and fell in love with Barbara Jean West, who became his wife in 1951. They had three sons. Oliver managed and coached little league teams when his sons were playing ball. Oliver enlisted in the Texas National Guard in May 1948 while at Baylor, became commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1952 and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for officer training. In 1969, Oliver went back to Fort Benning, at age 41, to attend Airborne school and became a paratrooper. In May 1969, he took a new job with Texas Life Insurance Company, where he finished his career in 1993, retiring as Senior Vice President, Operations. While at Texas Life he became a Fellow of the Life Office Management Association, a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Registered Principal of the National Association of Stock Dealers. Oliver retired from the National Guard in May 1980 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 32 years of service. After retirement from Texas Life, he and Barbara traveled extensively in their motor homes, spending several summers in Colorado, participated in several local ballroom and round dance clubs, played in several bridge clubs and enjoyed their friends and family. Survivors include his wife of more than 64 years, Barbara; sons, Michael and wife, Barbara, David and wife, Jaynette, and Matthew and wife, Nichole; granddaughters, Jamie Ping, Christina, Amanda and Samantha McMahan; grandson, Taylor Persky McMahan; and great grandchildren, Isabella, Benjamin and Ruby Ping. Pallbearers are Allen West, Pat McMahan, Kevin McMahan, Joe Flores, John Householder and Monty West. Honorary Pallbearers are Rollin Khoury, Dick Perot, Pat Patillio, Tom Oliver, David Young and Mercer Buchanan The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.