Russell Wayne Wadsworth, age 72, of Bangs passed away Thursday, February 20, at the Kindred Hospital Southwest in Fort Worth.
He was born January 21, 1948 in Brownwood, the son of Wayne and Karlene Teague Wadsworth. He graduated from Bangs High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He went to State participating in Shot Put and in 1965 was on the football team that went to Regionals which at the time was the highest level a school could achieve. After graduation, he attended Howard Payne on a football scholarship. He married Betty Kay Holliday on June 19, 1971 in Brownwood and was the owner of Bangs Automotive and Cen-Tex Fuels. He was Past-President of the Bangs Business Association, a former board member of the Brownwood Country Club, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bangs, and had been a resident of Bangs most of his life.
He is survived by his wife, Kay Wadsworth of Bangs, a daughter, Ashley Wadsworth and fiancé Josh Lucas of College Station, a sister, Carmen Free of Cross Plains, his mother, Karlene Wadsworth of Bangs, nieces, Angie Fields and husband Jason of Comanche, Lori McCrane and husband Steven of Brownwood, and Tiffany Ray and husband Robert of Georgia, great-nieces, Lizzie McCrane of Dallas, Morgan Ray of Georgia, Madlyn Ray of Georgia, and Allison Ray of Brownwod, great-nephews, Matthew McCrane and wife Megan of New York, Brandon Montemayor of Alaska, Bryce Montemayor of Dallas, and Brayden Fields of Comanche. Several cousins and other family also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Wadsworth, his maternal grandparents, Effie and Carl Teague, his paternal grandparents, Ray and Pearl Wadsworth, and an infant brother, Robert Mitchell Wadsworth.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Monday, February 24 at the First United Methodist Church in Bangs with Rev. Sally Fleming officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 – 2 prior to the service at the church with burial in the Bangs Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home.
Friends are encouraged to sign the guestbook at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com
Memorials are requested to be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bangs.
