Obituary for Ray H. Haskins
Ray H. Haskins (Rayburn Harold Haskins) died peacefully at home of natural causes on November 19, 2020 in Midland, Texas at the age of 97. He had for many years been lovingly attended by a very long time dear family friend, Martha Mangia.
Ray is survived by his former wife Otillia (Lucha) Orellana Haskins, son Ricardo Rayburn (Cecilia) Haskins, brother Paul E. Haskins, grandchildren; Will (Kelly) Davis of Houston, TX, Christopher Matthew (Arlette) Davis of Tyler, TX, Charles Heasley (Jennifer) of Allen, TX, Anthony (Kara Linn) Haskins of Ft. Worth, TX, Carolyn Haskins of Austin, TX, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister Lois Geraldine “Jerry” Williamson of Midland, TX and daughters, Ellen (Steve) Connor of Friendswood, TX and Suzanne Harrison Heasley of Plano, TX.
Ray was born on May 21, 1923 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma to Ernest Rayburn Haskins and Ruth Meyers Haskins. He graduated from Texas Tech in the ROTC program with a degree in geology. He served in World War II as a First Lieutenant and was engaged in Northern France, Normandy, Rhineland, and Central Europe, earning the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal, serving from May, 1944 thru October, 1946. His career as a geophysicist included living and working in Midland, TX; Lima, Peru; Tripoli, Libya; and Ecuador. He was a devout Christian, an avid sports fan of Texas Tech and the Dallas Cowboys, and loved reading and photography.
Many heartfelt thanks are owed to M.D. Anderson and Dr. Sapna Patel for helping him defeat melanoma cancer years ago, which gave him many more years to live. He passed without illness or disease. In remembrance of Ray Haskins’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center. His service is planned for 11:15 on Dec. 11 at the Dallas Ft. Worth Memorial Cemetery, a DFW National Veterans Cemetery.
Ray is survived by his former wife Otillia (Lucha) Orellana Haskins, son Ricardo Rayburn (Cecilia) Haskins, brother Paul E. Haskins, grandchildren; Will (Kelly) Davis of Houston, TX, Christopher Matthew (Arlette) Davis of Tyler, TX, Charles Heasley (Jennifer) of Allen, TX, Anthony (Kara Linn) Haskins of Ft. Worth, TX, Carolyn Haskins of Austin, TX, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister Lois Geraldine “Jerry” Williamson of Midland, TX and daughters, Ellen (Steve) Connor of Friendswood, TX and Suzanne Harrison Heasley of Plano, TX.
Ray was born on May 21, 1923 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma to Ernest Rayburn Haskins and Ruth Meyers Haskins. He graduated from Texas Tech in the ROTC program with a degree in geology. He served in World War II as a First Lieutenant and was engaged in Northern France, Normandy, Rhineland, and Central Europe, earning the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal, serving from May, 1944 thru October, 1946. His career as a geophysicist included living and working in Midland, TX; Lima, Peru; Tripoli, Libya; and Ecuador. He was a devout Christian, an avid sports fan of Texas Tech and the Dallas Cowboys, and loved reading and photography.
Many heartfelt thanks are owed to M.D. Anderson and Dr. Sapna Patel for helping him defeat melanoma cancer years ago, which gave him many more years to live. He passed without illness or disease. In remembrance of Ray Haskins’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center. His service is planned for 11:15 on Dec. 11 at the Dallas Ft. Worth Memorial Cemetery, a DFW National Veterans Cemetery.