Services for G.W. “Dub” Ivins, 85, of Maxwell, TX will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2018, in the Chapel of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home, Marietta, OK, with Reverends Michael Hammond and Tom Estes officiating. Interment with honors presented by the Choctaw Color Guard will be in the Jimtown Cemetery, Jimtown, OK, under the direction of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

He was born G.W. Ivins, but everyone called him “Dub”. To Know Him was to Love Him.

Dub, the son of George and Oma Ivins, was born in Love County, OK on December 17, 1932. He was the fourth of five children: Melvin, Helen, Otis and younger sister Hattie Mae. Dub grew up working his father’s farm, where he developed a strong work ethic, as well as a love of horses. He left home at the age of 16 and moved to Ft. Worth, TX where he got a job working in a steel mill. He rented a room from an older couple, and before long he retrieved his mare and kept her in the backyard. Dub was an excellent horseman and competed weekly in rodeos with his landlords attending to cheer him on. At age 18 he earned enough money rodeoing to pay cash for a brand new Ford. Dub was drafted by the Army, serving in Germany and Korea. Shortly after returning home he married Quetha Smith, his sister Helen’s friend. They had two children, Roger and Rita. After trying a few different jobs, he was thrilled to learn he could earn a living riding horses at Circle T Ranch in Lone Oak, TX, thus launching his lifelong career and passion as a horse trainer. He worked with horses such as: Spirette, My Lady Darling, Prides Keepsake, Mr. Triple Threat, Pride's Pride N Joy, and The Perfect Copy.

In 2002 he lost Quetha and in 2004 married Linda Wills, who shared his love of horses. Together, they owned Happy Hill Stable in Azle, TX where Dub continued to train horses into his 80th year.

In addition to his two children; Dub leaves Linda; his stepdaughter, Kelly; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Dub loved the Lord. He was raised in a Christian home, but fell away from organized worship in his midlife. In later years he returned to the church and had a hunger to study the written Word. Many mourn his loss, but we can rejoice in his dwelling with the Lord in Paradise.

Time of visitation for family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.