Raiford Ragland (Raggy) Stripling Obituary
Raiford Ragland (Raggy) Stripling, age 80, of San Augustine, Texas, passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Raiford Ragland (Raggy) Stripling was born on March 22, 1943 in Washington D.C. to Raiford and Roberta Stripling.
He spent his early years in Victoria, Texas and his teenage years in San Augustine where he graduated from high school in 1961. Afterwards, he studied architectural engineering at Texas A&M University, graduating in 1965. In 1966 he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Wendorf. After working in Dallas and Kentucky, he and Mary Ann returned to San Augustine to raise their family. During this time he worked alongside his father at Raiford Stripling Associates, Architects, on many historical restorations and also custom and civic projects. After his father passed away, he joined J.E. Kingham Construction in Nacogdoches as a construction engineer.
Raggy served his community in the Rotary Club, on the San Augustine school board, on the Go Texan Committee, and as an usher at the First United Methodist Church for many years. However, his greatest legacy was the relationships he had with his family and many friends. He was a wonderful father and husband; he was a completely selfless, loving and caring person, and he was a great friend to a great many people.
He was preceded in death by his parents Raiford Leak Stripling and Roberta Ragland Garner, as well as his infant son, John Ragland Stripling.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann, and his daughters Susan (and husband Hal) Everett of Tyler Texas, and Elizabeth (and husband Darrin) Morris of Georgetown, Texas; grandchildren Emily Everett Lucido (and husband John Michael), David Everett, Mary Ella Everett, Eleanor Morris, Jonathan Everett, William Morris, Hallie Everett, and Clara Morris; great grandchildren Eden and Judah Lucido; and siblings Penny Garner Lee of Buda, Texas and Kerry Garner of San Antonio, Texas.
Pallbearers will be Norrell Thomas, Scott Morris, Jeffrey Morris, David Everett, Jonathan Everett, and William Morris.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the San Augustine Methodist Church with Rev. Tim Turner officiating. Interment will be in the Liberty Hill Memorial Garden in San Augustine County, Texas.
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Ed Cain
Raggy was a really good friend and a class member in grade school and Crain Jr.High. His family moved to San Augustine, TX after 9th grade.
I visited him in the mid 1980's, since they were restoration architects his office was a 1900 jail building with individual offices in the refurbished cells. His house had a historical plaque commemorating a party Sam Houston attended were he fell off the porch and broke his leg.
Raggy was probably the only person who lost his dog by getting runover by an airplane. They lived near the runway and the dog liked to chase planes.
George Casey (Casey)
I also went to Crain at the same time as Raggy. My memory isn't as good as Ed's. I do know that after reading about the life he has had he was a remarkable person.my family's prayers go out to his family. 🙏