Robert Harlon Wagstaff

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
January 1, 2009, Page 8

Robert Harlon Wagstaff

Funeral services for Robert Harlon Wagstaff, 88, of Bronson, were held at 11:00 a.m. , Saturday, December 27, 2008, in the Starr Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Gene Samford officiating. Burial followed at Oaklawn Cemetery in Center. He died December 23, 2008, in Newton.

He was born October 9, 1920, in Shelby County to Richard and Pearl Permenter Wagstaff, the seventh of nine children. He had been a resident of Sabine County for forty-one years.

He volunteered for the Army Air Corp. He trained in Las Vegas at AAF Gunnery School (Spec Sperry Turrets). He was assigned as a tail gunner on a B26 Martin Maruder and flew 56 missions over Europe from bases in England, France and Belgium. He attained the rank of Staff Sgt. and was discharged on July 7, 1945. He worked 39 years as a teacher, coach and administrator in the public schools of Texas. He was employed by Brazosport ISD in Freeport for 11 years, Lufkin ISD for 10 years, and West Sabine ISD for 18 years. During his tenure at Brazosport he earned his Masters Degree from the University of Houston. He retired as superintendent at West Sabine ISD in 1985.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Bronson, daughter Lou Ann Wagstaff of Whitehouse, a granddaughter Cory and her husband Rob Blackmon, great grandchildren Caylor Brynn Blackmon, Brock Wagstaff Blackmon, and Tyler Robert Blackmon all of Brownsboro, a sister Neta Hanna of Jacksonville, brothers-in-law Winfred Wright of Port Neches and Hollis McMullen of Quitman, and many nieces and nephews.

Contributions to the Jon Robert Wagstaff Memorial Scholarship Fund, Rt. 3, Box 3037, Bronson, TX 75930 will be greatly appreciated by the family.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2009)

A nearly identical obituary appeared in the December 31, 2008 Sabine County Reporter.

Book Three A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS by Robert Cecil McDaniel (Texian Press: Waco, Texas, 1998) states that Robert H. Wagstaff, US Army Air Corps, Staff Sergeant, armorer, gunner, July 1942 to July 1945, served in the European Theater, flew 56 combat missions from Great Saling, England, Tille Air Force Base, France, and Leculot Field, Belgium, awarded the Air Medal with ten Oak Leaf Clusters, and two Presidential Unit Citations.

Robert married Bettye Frances Bragg on 23 Aug 1946. Bettye (daughter of Mack Register Bragg and Annie Pearl Barlow) was born on 10 Oct 1928 in Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Aug 2012 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas; was buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Shelby County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]