Lewis Benton Magness, 84, of Orange, died Monday, October 1, 2007, at Harbor Hospital in Orange.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, at North Orange Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Lynn Ashcraft and Reverend Scott McIntosh.

Graveside services will follow at 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Oak Grove Cemetery in Converse, Louisiana.

Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Converse, Louisiana on March 31, 1923, he was the son of Grover C. and Mary Cates Magness.

Mr. Magness served with the Dallas Police Department for eight years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. He began his career with Firestone Synthetic Rubber Plant in Orange in 1957, retiring as a shift supervisor.

He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WW II and a 50 year member of North Orange Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Mitchell Magness; brothers, John C. Magness, Willie C. Magness, D. Frank Magness and sister, Juana Snow.

Mr. Magness is survived by his wife of 61 years, Verma Wright Magness of Orange; daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela and Frank Nunez of Groves, Mary and Jeff Girard of Beaumont, Laurie and Tom Winslow of Nassau Bay and sister, Kathleen Adamo of Austin.

Also surviving are his grandchildren, Tim Nunez, Janna Nunez-Gussman, Allison Nimitz and her husband, Barron, Lauren Butler and her husband, Michael, Megan Gallien and her husband Leon, Logan Winslow; and great grandchildren, Katelynn Butler, Corey Butler, Enrique Gussman and many nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Timothy Benton Nunez, Logan Alexander Winslow, Barron Nimitz, Michael Butler, Leon Gallien and John Adamo.

Mr. Magness was a dedicated volunteer for Orange Christian Services for many years. For those who wish memorials may be directed to Orange Christian Services, 2518 W. Park Ave., Orange, TX 77630.