Earl Raymon “Ray” Waddell, III

Earl Raymon “Ray” Waddell, III, 77, born Mar. 18, 1943, passed away Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 from complications of Covid.

Ray is survived by his partner, Lisa Artman; his five children, Matt, Eve, Luke and wife Rebecca, Evan, and Bailey; his sister Jan, his brother Loy and wife Virginia; and five grandchildren Nathan, Micah and Ava Medellin, Tyler and Alexa Waddell.

Ray graduated from Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth in 1961. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Texas. On Dec. 19, 1965, he married Sue Carnes of Gonzales. Ray then entered service as an Air Force Officer. He achieved the rank of Captain before completing his service as an Intelligence Officer.

Following his military service, Ray developed a computer consulting business and owned and operated a construction company throughout the 1970s in north Texas. After winding down those businesses, he then spent several years working cattle and building fences for his father-in-law, Lee Carnes, under the watchful eye of Lonnie Busch. In the 1980s he enrolled in UT Austin School of Law and obtained his law degree. ​Ray practiced law with the Tarrant County District Attorney before entering private practice. He was an original board member during the creation of the Texas Wesleyan School of Law where he taught for many years.

Ray inherited his passion for airplanes and aviation from his father, sharing it and passing it along to his son Luke. He cultivated a love for travel among his children and family friends.

Ray was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and he did his best to follow John Wesley’s charge: “​Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 at 3 p.m. To view the service online, visit www.lucasfuneralhomes.com.

Interment will take place at DFW National Cemetery.