Robert Harlon Wagstaff: Strong McLemore Ancestry

Generation: 1

Robert Harlon Wagstaff was born on 9 Oct 1920 in Shelby County, Texas (son of Richard S. Wagstaff and Lulu Pearl Permenter); died on 23 Dec 2008 in Newton, Newton County, Texas; was buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Shelby County, Texas.

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]

Notes:

Married:
They are the parents of LouAnn and Jon Robert.

Children:

Living
Jon Robert Wagstaff was born on 31 Jan 1964 in Angelina County, Texas; died on 28 Aug 1983 in Smith County, Texas.

Generation: 2

Richard S. Wagstaff was born about 1880 in Texas; and died.

Notes:

At the time of the 1930 census, he was listed as a Teamster for a lumbermill in Panola County. His son Travis was shown as a farm laborer. Ten years earlier, he was in Shelby County, and listed as a farmer. Burt Wagstaff, a 73 year old widower born in Georgia, was listed as his father, and was living in his household as well.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Texas, Shelby County, JP 4
Enumerated 13 Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 189 Sheet 7A
117-129
Wagstaff, Richard Head m W 40 M Tx Ga Tx Farmer
Wagstaff, Pearl Wf F W 36 M Tx Tx Ark
Wagstaff, Travis Son M W 10 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Floyd Son M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Etta Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Phoy E. Son M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Bonnie G Dtr M (sic) W 3 4/12 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Burt Father M W 73 Wd Ga Ga Ga Farmer

1930 Census
Texas, Panola County, Precinct 5
Enumerated April 12, 1930
ED 183-12 SD 12 Sheet 6A Stamped 184
116-119
Wagstaff, Richard S Hed M W 5? M 28 Tx Ga Tx Teamster Lumber Mill
Wagstaff, Pearl Wf F W 46 m 23 Tx Tx Ark
Wagstaff, Travis Son M W 20 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Wagstaff, Etta Dtr F W 18 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Foy E Son M W 16 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Wagstaff, Bonnie G Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Harlon Son M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Oneta Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Wagstaff, Cristene Dtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Tx

Richard married Lulu Pearl Permenter about 1907. Lulu was born about 1884 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lulu Pearl Permenter was born about 1884 in Texas; and died.

Children:

Avis Wagstaff was born about 1908 in Texas; and died.
Rev. Travis Richard Wagstaff was born on 16 Aug 1909 in Joaquin, Shelby County, Texas; died on 10 Jun 2001 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
Floyd Wagstaff was born on 8 Jan 1911 in Shelby County, Texas; died on 5 Feb 2000 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.
Etta Wagstaff was born about 1912 in Texas; and died.
Foy E. Wagstaff was born on 8 Dec 1913 in Texas; died on 22 Nov 1997 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.
Bonnie G. Wagstaff was born about 1917 in Texas; and died.
1. Robert Harlon Wagstaff was born on 9 Oct 1920 in Shelby County, Texas; died on 23 Dec 2008 in Newton, Newton County, Texas; was buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Shelby County, Texas.
Living
Cristine Wagstaff was born about 1925 in Texas; and died.