Richard Renfro

Richard “Red” Renfro, 84 of Fort Sumner, NM died Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales, NM following an illness. Richard was born May 28, 1922 in Paducah, Texas the son of Louie Leonard Renfro and the former Lola Pearl Singleton. He graduated from high school in Vernon, Texas. Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army Corp on September 11, 1942 where he served as a B-25 Pilot and Flight Officer assigned the 310th Bombardment Group, 380th Bombardment Squadron. Red was honorably discharged on October 2, 1945. He received the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Air Medal, and the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal. Richard married Mary M. Walker on May 4, 1946 at Grand Canyon, AZ. Richard worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for five years and later for the American Car and Foundry in Albuquerque. Richard was employed in 1956 by the University of California where he worked as a Supervisor of Technical Test Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He retired in 1979 and made his home in Fort Sumner. He enjoyed the outdoors especially golf, hunting and fishing. Richard and Mary owned a cabin at Conchas Lake, NM for several years where he enjoyed water skiing. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; a son Steven Lane Renfro in 1958; two sisters Pauline Vaughan and Anna Sue Wilson and a brother Charles Thomas Moore. Survivors include his wife Mary Renfro of the home in Fort Sumner; two sons Larry L. Renfro and wife Jacki of Yuma, AZ; James Gregory Renfro and wife Deanne of Trabuco Canyon, CA; three grandchildren - grandson Steven Matthew Renfro and wife Jennifer of Albuquerque; grandson Ian Michael Renfro of Trabuco Canyon, CA; and a granddaughter Julie Erin Renfro of Trabuco Canyon, CA, two great-grandchildren Genevive and Jackson Renfro of Albuquerque. Also surviving one sister Mildred Marie Johnson of Fort Sumner and a brother William Don Moore of Midland, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, April 19, 2007 from the First United Methodist church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Keith Niehaus officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Steve Renfro, Ian Renfro, Larry Renfro, Greg Renfro, Kelly Finney, and Don Moore. Honorary bearers will be all his friends and neighbors. The family prefers memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund P.O. Box 410, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or Gideon Bible International; P.O. Box 1022, Portales, NM 88130. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 For online tributes or to place a note of condolence please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com