Irby Dwayne Westmoreland, age 80 of Burleson, Texas, went to be with His Lord in his heavenly home on March 5, 2021, surrounded by his family.
Irby was born on May 30, 1940 to William and Atrelle Westmoreland in Canton, Texas. He grew up in Dallas, Texas and enjoyed fishing and hunting as a boy. At the age of thirteen, Irby began what would be a lifetime career of working with transmissions. Mentored by his employer and self-taught from books he acquired, Irby quickly became a master of transmission repair. He spent 25 years working at Day and Nite Transmission. Afterward, he started his own transmission business, C & W Transmissions, and operated that business for 25 years.
Throughout his life, Irby was always mechanically inclined. He enjoyed making tools, repairing clocks, building race cars and generally taking things apart and putting them back together.
In 1962, at the age of 21, Irby met the love of his life, Linda. They were married on September 14 after only a few short months of dating. Together they raised their children, Bob and Penni. They spent much of their time just being together and enjoying each other’s company over simple pleasures like getting hamburgers and ice cream. As their children grew, they made many memories while taking vacations and spending time at the lake fishing and boating.
On April 15, 1963, Irby’s life changed forever when he gave his life to Christ. His relationship with God grew over the years and he remained a faithful servant to the Lord until he was called home. As a charter member at Brookhollow Baptist Church, he spent 17 years driving children to and from church through the bus ministry.
In 1980, Irby received one of the names he loved best, ‘Pawpaw’. With his children, grandchildren, and then great-grandchildren at his side, he spent many a day being involved in whatever interested each child at the time - from auto racing to sports, dance and band events.
Over the last few years, Irby was able to spend more time with his dearest friends as well as serve in the community through organizations such as Harvest House and Meals on Wheels. What he enjoyed most, though, was the time he spent reading his Bible. He studied each night for several hours and was also involved in men’s Bible study through his church. During his final days, he witnessed to his nurses and doctors through his words and his kindness, by reading his Bible and even suggesting texts for his doctors and nurses to read.
Throughout his life, Irby strived to be an honest, generous, dependable, hardworking, family man who looked more like Christ each day and spent each day desiring to glorify Him.
Irby is preceded in death by his parents, William Irby Westmoreland and Atrelle Ida Westmoreland. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Westmoreland; children, Bob Westmoreland and his wife Teresa, Penni Jones and her husband Jerry; grandchildren, Nicole Westmoreland Hammonds, Stefanie Luedtke and her husband Michael, Morgan Wilhide and her husband Logan, and Emily Jones; great-grandchildren, Amber Hammonds, Bubba Hammonds and Chandler Luedtke; sister, Judy Daniels and her husband Lee and many other loving family and friends.
A celebration of life for Irby Dwayne Westmoreland will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 11am at Cana Baptist Church in Burleson, Texas. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service. A graveside service will be held Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 2:30pm at Haven of Memories Memorial Park in Canton, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cana Baptist Church, 2309 E Renfro St., Burleson, TX 76028.