Kent Birdwell, 89, of Dimmitt passed away Thursday, January 2, 2014 in Dimmitt. Funeral services will be Monday, January 6, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Dimmitt at 2:30 PM with Rev. T.C. Broom officiating and burial to follow at Castro Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Family and friend visitation will be Sunday from 4:00-6:00 PM at the funeral home. Arrangements are being handled by Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Kent was born July 15, 1924 in Loving, Texas to J. M. "Buddy" and Mayme Birdwell. He came to Dimmitt at the age of one. His brother, Bill and sister, Bobby Ruth (Dodd) were born in Dimmitt. Kent's employment began at age twelve behind the soda fountain of Darsey Drug Store, where he worked when not in school until graduation in 1941. He was then employed by the A.S.C. office until joining the U. S. Air Force in March 1943, being stationed in Italy from 1944 until discharged in 1946. On July 28, 1946 he married Mary Jo Tatum of Plainview. They met on a blind date arranged by Billy Joe and Dorothy Wren Rothwell while Mary Jo was attending West Texas State. They were married for 64 years. Following military service Kent was employed by Higginbotham-Bartlett Lumber Company. He and Mary Jo built a two bedroom stucco house on a lot west of his parents' house on Bedford Street using oak lumber salvaged from the old Italian prisoner of war camp near Hereford. In 1947 Kent accepted employment as Deputy Sheriff and Tax Collector, working for "Peck" Wyer. After office hours it was also Kent's duty to sit with the Sheriff at the highway intersection, waiting for "bootleggers." In 1958 the offices were separated, with Kent being appointed Castro County Tax Assessor-Collector. He retired in 1979, having served as this elected official longer than any other person in the history of Castro County, Texas, and was commended by the Texas governor. Kent began selling insurance for State Farm on a small scale in 1952. An insurance office was opened in 1973 with his wife, Mary Jo, as office manager. Kent retired as an active agent in 1990 and son Russel succeeded him in the State Farm business. Kent's hobby of trading cars had evolved into a used car business, Kent's Auto Sales. He is survived by his wife Mary Jo Birdwell of Dimmitt; 2 sons Steve Birdwell and Russel Birdwell both of Dimmitt and 2 daughters Paula Bradford of Canyon and Karen Barron of Austin. 11 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by 1 son Kelly Birdwell, 1 brother Bill Birdwell and 1 sister Bobby Dodd. You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org