Richard Tinsley

Richard Harold Tinsley, 88, formerly of Waco, passed away peacefully after a brief illness December 28, 2012 in La Grange surrounded by his family. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2012 at Oakwood Cemetery. No formal visitation is scheduled. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date in Fayetteville, Texas.

Richard was born September 3, 1924 in Waco to Luther E. Tinsley and Martha Pearl DeFord Tinsley and spent his early childhood in Hillsboro. A proud veteran of World War II, Richard served in the Army destroyer battalion under Patton and received a Purple Heart as a result of wounds received in France. He continued to be a strong supporter of disabled veterans for his entire life. He was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for over 30 years. He and his wife, Rita, moved from Waco to Fayetteville, Texas in recent years in order to be near their daughter.

Richard had a passion for genealogy and history and spent many hours on his computer communicating and sharing family information with far-distant relatives. He also enjoyed spending time in his studio painting Texas landscapes as well as many historic homes and sites in and around Fayetteville. He was a member of the Scottish Rite. Richard will be remembered everyday by his devoted wife, daughter, grandsons and great grandchildren as the supreme example of a good man.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Leroy L. Tinsley, Bob Tinsley and Don Tinsley.

Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Rita King Tinsley, of Fayetteville; daughter, Diane Tinsley of Fayetteville; two grandsons, Warren Hunter Prescott and wife, Courtney of Fort Worth and Mark Tinsley Prescott and wife, Nancy Kate of Houston; three great grandchildren, Tinsley Elizabeth Prescott, Hunter Hale Prescott and James Willeford Prescott; his sisters, Virginia Tinsley Seidler of Hillsboro; and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Thomas Borgstedte of La Grange and all the nurses who took such good care of him at St. Mark’s Hospital in La Grange and St. David’s in Austin. A special thanks to his caregivers and friends at Jefferson Place and Brazos Valley Hospice.