Raymond Birchfield

Raymond Birchfield, 87, of Huntsville, Texas, passed away December 24, 2015. Raymond was born February 6, 1928, in Columbia County, Arkansas, to Coy and Ola (Miller) Burchfield. He was the oldest of nine children. He married Bobbie Grace Jones on December 20, 1952, in Magnolia, Arkansas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at South Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas and his M.Ed. from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 through 1954 during the Korean Conflict era. Raymond was an educator and served as a teacher and coach at Navasota ISD, Rockdale ISD, and Littlefield ISD. He also served as an assistant principal and principal at Huntsville ISD and as a principal at Huntington ISD. His students, players, and teachers were very special to him and were an important part of his life. As head football coach and athletic director he led the Rockdale Tigers to the 1962 Class 2A state championship game and to an undefeated regular season record in the 1963 season. He was inducted into the Rockdale Sports Hall of Honor in 2008; and, at the time of his induction, the 1963 team was still the only Tiger football team with a perfect regular season record. He enjoyed hunting, woodworking, golf, and RVing, especially with family. He always enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was very family-oriented and took pleasure in attending his children and grandchildren’s various activities. In his later years, Raymond especially enjoyed the visits he had with his brothers, sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews who would meet in Arkansas from all over the United States. He was a member of Rotary International and was honored to be named a Paul Harris Fellow. Raymond served as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Huntsville for many years as well as Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Rockdale. He also served as a Sunday School teacher and as Sunday School director. He always enjoyed being involved with his church and church family wherever he lived and his strong Christian faith was evident in his everyday life. He leaves a legacy of a well-lived Christian life for his family to remember. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bobbie Jones Birchfield, and daughters, Carla Woodington and husband, Tim, of Spearman; Kay Laube and husband, Steve, of Huntsville; and Ann Kepley and husband, James, of Amarillo. He is also survived by his grandchildren Sydney Woodington Codding and husband, Don, of Washington D.C.; Kara Laube Cross and husband, Brian, of The Woodlands; and Ryan Laube and wife, Jessica, of Huntsville, along with great-grandchildren Julian Codding and Nolan Cross and was lovingly known as PawPaw. Raymond is survived by his sisters Garnell Tiegen, Laverne Atkinson, Shirley Shaver, Linda Wolfe, and sisters-in-law Elvaretta Burchfield and Brenda Burchfield. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Carl, Thomas, Joe, and an infant brother. Visitation with family and friends will be Monday, December 28, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville. Services will be held Tuesday, December 29, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1229 Avenue J, Huntsville, Texas, with interment following service at Brooke Cemetery, Huntsville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Raymond Birchfield Family Scholarship at First Baptist Church Huntsville or to a charity of your choice. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Raymond Birchfield

February 6, 1928 - December 24, 2015