Richard Waggoner

WAGGONER, RICHARD WALTER- CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF RICHARD WALTER WAGGONER will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, burial following at South Park Cemetery with Rev. Dale Plummer officiating. The Waggoner family invites you to gather with them at St. Andrews Church for a reception following the service.

On August 26, 2018 Richard Walter Waggoner passed away in the comfort of his Roswell home and in the presence of his loving family. Richard, known to his friends as ‘Dick', is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lynn Victoria Waggoner, his daughter of Roswell, NM, Jolene Lynn Lilley, (Frank Lilley) and his son of Santa Fe, NM, William J. Waggoner. Dick is the grandfather of eight children and great grandfather of eleven.

Richard Waggoner, is a native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque, attended and graduated from NMMI in 1950 and graduated first in his class in 1956 from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture.

Dick enjoyed a very successful architecture practice throughout the southwestern United States for over 60 years. He designed over 44 projects at NMMI, numerous University projects at campuses throughout the State of New Mexico as well fire stations, banks, restaurants, numerous residences, museums, churches and a host of other commercial and residential projects that will forever remember his extraordinary design and planning talent and expertise. His vision and tireless dedication to solving the ‘space problem' will be enjoyed by people who live, work and play in the buildings that he designed for generations to come. He was also a keen businessman; instrumental in helping his father-in-law, John H. Trigg, build a successful oil and gas company in the Permian Basin.

Richard's philosophy to serve the community that gives so much to us was time and again demonstrated in the decades of years of his community service in so many organizations such as Board of NCARB, (National Council of Architecture Registration Boards) where he wrote and graded the design portion of the tests required for persons seeking to acquire a license to practice architecture, he served and attended Rotary for over four decades, where he received the Paul Harris Award and was named a Fellow, the New Mexico State Board of Architecture (past Chairman) for eight years, NMMI Foundation Board Trustee for eleven years, President of the NMMI Alumni Association for two terms, admitted to the NMMI Hall of Fame, a Warden of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, City of Roswell Planning and Zoning Chairman and so many others.

Dick Waggoner's zest for life mirrored his passion to soar. He loved flying and as a young man earned his fixed-wing pilot's license and then with his life-long friend Bill Cutter, went on to actually build and fly a biplane. He was one of the first Hot Air Balloon pilots in New Mexico and one of the founding pilots of the now world renowned International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. He enjoyed that sport for many years across the United States; flying with his friends and family and just about anyone else who asked for a ride. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer and world traveler. In fact, at age 55, Dick taught himself to speak German and then took his wife and travelled the country just to use it.

Richard W. Waggoner maybe remembered best for never saying ‘no' to someone who asked him for help. Countless people owe their success to Dick for stopping and taking the time to help them. He did so with a smile and usually a joke. Dick truly loved to see others smile and always had a joke to tell them to see if couldn't achieve just that, a smile or a laugh.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made in honor of Mr. Waggoner to The Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 12300 Twinbrook Parkway #410, Rockville, MD 20852; Assurance Home Inc., 1000 E. 18th Street, Roswell, NM 88201 or an organization of your choice.

Service

Funeral Service

St. Andrews Episcopal Church
505 N. Pennsylvania Ave
Roswell, NM  88201
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
10:00 AM

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

The Fisher House Foundation, Inc.,
12300 Twinbrook Parkway #410
Rockville, MD  20852

Assurance Home Inc
1000 East 18th St.
Roswell, NM  88201