Roll Call Tribute
William "Duke" Waggoner '60 August 17, 2016 4:05 PM updated: August 17, 2016 4:10 PM
Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home obituary
3434 South Loop 256
Palestine, TX 75801
Telephone: (903) 731-4444
Email: info@herringtonfuneral.com
William Windsor "Duke" Waggoner
May 31, 1938 - August 7, 2016
William Windsor “Duke” Waggoner was born May 31, 1938 in Canadian, Texas to William Lloyd “Toby” and Gertrude Marie Hoggins Waggoner. Mr. Waggoner, called “Duke” by his friends, was their first child and only son. He was a fifth generation Texan descending from Solomon Waggoner who came to Texas in 1829. Duke passed away August 7, 2016 in Palestine, Texas.
Duke grew up in and around the Texas panhandle, going to school in Hamlin, New Deal, Pampa and graduating from High School in Plainview. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1960 having served on the Town Hall Staff and a battalion leader in the Corp. After serving two years in the army Duke returned to A&M where he earned his master’s in business administration.
In January 1959 he married Nancy Alice Scuddy in Beaumont. They had two children; a daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Gabrielle Waggoner and a son William Scuddy Waggoner. During his career with Burroughs Corporation (now known as Unisys) Duke moved his family from Houston to the corporate headquarters in Detroit, then to St. Louis where he was district manager and then to Memphis where he was manager of large commercial systems. In 1979 Duke left Burroughs to return to Texas to be closer to both his and Nancy’s aging parents, settling in Austin. There he opened computer branch offices for Tel-Tex, Qualcomm, and Floating Point before becoming a partner in Factorial, a paperless computer company.
Always having the desire to restore an old house, in 1991 Duke and Nancy bought a house that had been converted into an apartment house. Spending a year on the restoration, the house achieved Austin Landmark statics. They opened a very successful bed and breakfast which was later named as one of the top three bed and breakfasts in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine. Desiring a life in the ‘slow lane’ from being B&B owners, they sold their business in 2000 and moved to Palestine, Texas.
Duke was active for over twenty five years in the Rotary Club in Memphis, Austin and Palestine. He served on the Boy Scouts Board in Austin. In Palestine he served on the vestry, and as chalicer and layreader at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. He was president of the Friends of the Library in Palestine. He enjoyed playing the tenor banjo and helped to start a banjo band while in Memphis and in Austin. Duke’s hobby was woodworking, turning writing pens in particular, or as he often said, “he specializes in creating sawdust.”
Duke is preceded in death by his parents, Toby and Gertrude Waggoner, his daughter, Gabrielle Waggoner Yates and a sister, Beth Ann Waggoner Grace. He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Nancy of Palestine, son W. Scuddy Waggoner of Dallas, sister Linda Sue Waggoner and husband Ronnie Hardin of Mt. Pleasant Texas, brother-in-law, Robert Norman Grace of Longview Texas, son-in-law James Lucas Yates III and grandson, James Lucas Yates IV of Olive Branch, Mississippi.
The family would like to thank Mary Weaver, Kathy Jones and Jan Jones for their help in caring for Duke. Todi Arker, Randal Ator, Sidney Vincent, and Natasha of Hospice Plus who were amazing help and support to Duke and Nancy during Duke’s illness. The family also thanks the wonderful and caring staff at Dogwood Trails Memory Care. A special thank you to our many friends for their support and prayers.
Honorary Pallbearers are Leo Mizell, Jerry Fagalde, Sid Walton, Albert Herrington, Bill Tatum, Jim Wood and the Mystik Krewe of Revelry.
A memorial celebration of Duke’s life will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine on August 20, 2016 with Fr. Ted Welty officiating. Visitation will be in the Parish Hall at 10 am with services at 11 am. Lunch will follow the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Philip’s Church or to a charity of your choice.
Visitation
AUG 20. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Philips Episcopal Church
106 East Crawford
Palestine, TX, US, 75801
Celebration of Life
AUG 20. 11:00 AM
St. Philips Episcopal Church
106 East Crawford
Palestine, TX, US, 75801
3434 South Loop 256
Palestine, TX 75801
Telephone: (903) 731-4444
Email: info@herringtonfuneral.com
William Windsor "Duke" Waggoner
May 31, 1938 - August 7, 2016
William Windsor “Duke” Waggoner was born May 31, 1938 in Canadian, Texas to William Lloyd “Toby” and Gertrude Marie Hoggins Waggoner. Mr. Waggoner, called “Duke” by his friends, was their first child and only son. He was a fifth generation Texan descending from Solomon Waggoner who came to Texas in 1829. Duke passed away August 7, 2016 in Palestine, Texas.
Duke grew up in and around the Texas panhandle, going to school in Hamlin, New Deal, Pampa and graduating from High School in Plainview. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1960 having served on the Town Hall Staff and a battalion leader in the Corp. After serving two years in the army Duke returned to A&M where he earned his master’s in business administration.
In January 1959 he married Nancy Alice Scuddy in Beaumont. They had two children; a daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Gabrielle Waggoner and a son William Scuddy Waggoner. During his career with Burroughs Corporation (now known as Unisys) Duke moved his family from Houston to the corporate headquarters in Detroit, then to St. Louis where he was district manager and then to Memphis where he was manager of large commercial systems. In 1979 Duke left Burroughs to return to Texas to be closer to both his and Nancy’s aging parents, settling in Austin. There he opened computer branch offices for Tel-Tex, Qualcomm, and Floating Point before becoming a partner in Factorial, a paperless computer company.
Always having the desire to restore an old house, in 1991 Duke and Nancy bought a house that had been converted into an apartment house. Spending a year on the restoration, the house achieved Austin Landmark statics. They opened a very successful bed and breakfast which was later named as one of the top three bed and breakfasts in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine. Desiring a life in the ‘slow lane’ from being B&B owners, they sold their business in 2000 and moved to Palestine, Texas.
Duke was active for over twenty five years in the Rotary Club in Memphis, Austin and Palestine. He served on the Boy Scouts Board in Austin. In Palestine he served on the vestry, and as chalicer and layreader at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. He was president of the Friends of the Library in Palestine. He enjoyed playing the tenor banjo and helped to start a banjo band while in Memphis and in Austin. Duke’s hobby was woodworking, turning writing pens in particular, or as he often said, “he specializes in creating sawdust.”
Duke is preceded in death by his parents, Toby and Gertrude Waggoner, his daughter, Gabrielle Waggoner Yates and a sister, Beth Ann Waggoner Grace. He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Nancy of Palestine, son W. Scuddy Waggoner of Dallas, sister Linda Sue Waggoner and husband Ronnie Hardin of Mt. Pleasant Texas, brother-in-law, Robert Norman Grace of Longview Texas, son-in-law James Lucas Yates III and grandson, James Lucas Yates IV of Olive Branch, Mississippi.
The family would like to thank Mary Weaver, Kathy Jones and Jan Jones for their help in caring for Duke. Todi Arker, Randal Ator, Sidney Vincent, and Natasha of Hospice Plus who were amazing help and support to Duke and Nancy during Duke’s illness. The family also thanks the wonderful and caring staff at Dogwood Trails Memory Care. A special thank you to our many friends for their support and prayers.
Honorary Pallbearers are Leo Mizell, Jerry Fagalde, Sid Walton, Albert Herrington, Bill Tatum, Jim Wood and the Mystik Krewe of Revelry.
A memorial celebration of Duke’s life will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine on August 20, 2016 with Fr. Ted Welty officiating. Visitation will be in the Parish Hall at 10 am with services at 11 am. Lunch will follow the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Philip’s Church or to a charity of your choice.
Visitation
AUG 20. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Philips Episcopal Church
106 East Crawford
Palestine, TX, US, 75801
Celebration of Life
AUG 20. 11:00 AM
St. Philips Episcopal Church
106 East Crawford
Palestine, TX, US, 75801
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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