Cecil left high school in 1943 to enlist in the service. He was a combat soldier in WWII, stationed in Korea. He served two years in the US Army and rose to the rank of Corporal. He participated in the Asia-Pacific Campaign in the Philippines, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Bronze Arrowhead for assisting in liberating a POW camp. He was in transit to Japan when the Peace Treaty ended the war.
Cecil was a founding officer of the Fort Worth CB Radio Lions Club in 1967, where he was an active member holding various offices for over 15 years. He was a founding officer of Snake Kings of Texas, where with the assistance of his daughter, Janet, rounded up rattlesnakes for the purpose of educating and entertaining the public on snakes, as well as research and development of anti-venom. In 1985, he retired from General Motors after 25 years of service.
Cecil loved camping and outdoor adventures. With help from his family and friends, built two motor homes from scratch. The first in the middle 60’s from an old hearse and the second from a bus he bought at an auction the in 70’s. He belonged to a camper club and traveled with multiple families in a caravan to New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Also in the 70’s he bought and rebuilt a deck boat. He always had a taste of out of the way places and owned a VW Thing, a dune buggy, and multiple motorcycles. IN the 80’s, his brother, Henry, acquired a 4-wheel drive Mustang and he had to have one too, so he build his own 4-wheel drive Mustang. He could build most anything. His motto was, “Can’t never could do anything!”
Around 1986, after he retired, he and his wife moved to Jacksonville, Texas. He started with small property of about two acres and then upgraded ten years later, after moving almost every square inch of dirt with his tractor to a larger property of almost 23 acres. Cecil stayed active on his tree farm for over 20 years.
Cecil is survived by his wife, Ann Driver; children Glynn Driver of Fort Collins, CO, David Driver of Fort Worth, and Janet Dolan and husband James of Arlington; grandchildren Benjamin Stephens, Rani Graham and spouse Brad, Carissa Driver, Angela O’Neil and spouse Daniel, Michael Dolan, and Janice Snodgrass and spouse Brett; great grandchildren Kayla Dolan, Hayden Dolan, Mickel Driver, Nathan Stephens, Sean Graham and Taylor Snodgrass; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Fred Driver and Henry Driver, sister Frances Fitch, daughter Linda Stephens, and great granddaughter Corinthia Watkins.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at Fielder Church. Inurnment will take place at 2pm on Thursday at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. A memorial service in Cecil’s hometown will be held at 1:30pm on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at New Hope Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Texas (Turn left off Hwy 79 onto FM 747S. Church is on the right about 2.5 miles down).
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