Dick Shackelford (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—Richard Wayne (Dick) Shackelford, 91, of Tulia, died February 22, 2012. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2012 in the First United Methodist Church in Tulia, with Rev. Donna Nelson, officiating and Rev. Ernie McGaughey, assisting. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. Richard Wayne (Dick) Shackelford was born in Slaton, Texas on June 14, 1920. His father, a retired preacher in the Methodist Protestant Church was employed by the Santa Fe Railway Company and his mother was a housewife. Dick was reared in Montague County, graduating from High School at Nocona, Texas. He attended Decatur Baptist Junior College and finished the two year requirements, followed by three years as a Mechanical Engineering Student at Texas Tech. He was married to Wanda Lee Hogan in Wichita Falls, Texas on August 6, 1944. The couple had two sons, Donald Wayne of Houston and Richard Gary of Plano. The family moved to Tulia in 1946. Dick worked as Resident Engineer until 1950 overseeing construction of rural power lines, and then assisted in organizing Mid Plains Rural Telephone Cooperative, becoming Coordinator and later General Manager of Mid Plains for 35 years until he retired in 1986. Dick was an active member of the Tulia First United Methodist Church for some 65 years. He taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and served on numerous committees and boards. He was a member of a men’s quartet for several years singing for the community as well as the church. One of the high points in Dick and Wanda’s church work was serving as chaperones for the European tour of the Methodist Youth Chorale. He was active in the Telephone industry, an organizing member and serving as President of The Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative. He also served in the larger organization of the Texas Telephone Association which included all Telephone Companies in Texas, serving on its Board of Directors for 16 years and as President. Tulia honored Dick by naming him “Outstanding Man” in 1982. He was a member of Kiwanis Club for over 60 years and was Lieutenant Governor. He was a 65 year Master Mason, a member of the Chapter and Council, and a member of the Scottish Rite. He was preceded in death by his father, Thurman G. Shackelford, his mother, Eula Mae Swaim Shackelford Mauldin, two sisters: Virginia McGrew and Alice Williams, 2 brothers-in-law: Don Cooper and Norris McGrew, and a daughter-in-law: Lynda Shackelford. Survivors include his wife: Wanda of the home, two sons: Don of Houston and Gary of Plano, one sister: Barbara Cooper of Waxahachie, a brother-in-law: James Williams of Ft Worth, three grandchildren: Kelly Shackelford and Robyn of Amarillo, Amy Curry and Cory of Fr. Worth and Sara McCoy and Kallen of Ft. Worth, and eight great grandchildren: Andy, Lacy, Trent, Kelli Ann, Kodi Shackelford, all of Amarillo, Hogan and Rece Curry of Ft. Worth and Whit McCoy of Dallas. Suggested memorial include First United Methodist Church, Box 330 or Tulia Masonic Lodge, Box 438, both of Tulia, Texas 79088.