Bud Kidwell

Rev. Bud Kidwell, 63, of Panhandle died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Amarillo. Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Panhandle. Dr. Max Whitfield, Bishop of the Northwest Texas/New Mexico Conferences, Rev. Todd Dyess, Amarillo District Superintendent, Rev. Tom Carter, Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Wheeler, Rev. David McGaughy, Pastor First United Methodist Church in Texline and Rev. Wayne Hollinshead, Pastor First Christian Church in Quanah will be officiating. Burial will be at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, Texas at 4:00 p.m. Arrangements by Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Amarillo, Texas. Rev. Kidwell was born December 25, 1945, in Wheeler, Texas to Curtis Lee and Fern Rose James Kidwell. Bud received his Associate's Degree from Clarendon College, attended West Texas State University. He received his Bachelor's Degree in psychology from River Forest Lutheran College, River Forest, Illinois. He attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary and Wayland Baptist University to receive his Master's Degree in religion/psychology from Wayland Baptist University. Bud was licensed to preach the Gospel Ministry on December 31, 1974. He was ordained into the Gospel Ministry April 11, 1976 and later became an Elder in the United Methodist Church June 15, 2002. He preached at Bethany Baptist Church, Oak Park, Illinois, Ridgeland Heights Baptist Church, Sandersville, Ga., Central Baptist Church, Borger, Texas, First United Methodist Church, Crosbyton, Texas, First United Methodist Church, Quanah, Texas, and First United Methodist Church, Panhandle, Texas, where he has served for the past 2 1/2 years. Bud loved the ministry, loved his family, loved people and lived his life serving the Lord and others. Bud met and married the love of his life, Karilyn Noble, on November 16, 1968 in Clarendon, Texas. Bud and Karilyn served the Lord together for 41 years. The most precious gift of all for Bud and Karilyn is their daughter Kimberly Dawn Kidwell who thought her Dad was the best dad ever! Bud is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis Lee and Fern Rose James Kidwell, two nephews, Michael Johnson and Jeff Tyra, father-in-law Gerald Noble and mother-in-law Hazel Noble. Survivors include: wife Karilyn and his precious daughter Kimberly of Panhandle Texas, two sisters Betty Kreyling and her husband Dave of Pampa Texas, his ""youngest oldest sister"" Barbara Rector of Pampa Texas, his sister-in-law Marilyn Grimes and husband Gary of Amarillo Texas, brother-in-law Ronnie Tyra and wife Janie of Amarillo Texas, his niece Kathy Borden and husband Leland of Linden Texas, niece D'Wan Grimes and her son Devin Morelos of Amarillo Texas, nephew Shad Tyra of Corpus Christi and Kendra Cantrell and husband Jason of Dimmitt Texas. He is also survived by numerous great-nieces and great-nephews that he loved and cherished dearly. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church Panhandle, Choir Fund, P O Box 549, Panhandle, Texas 79068. Visitation for family and friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage, Amarillo, Texas.