Lester "Ray" Holcomb (Floydada)
Lester “Ray” Holcomb, devoted husband, loving dad, doting grandad, and friend to all, passed away on June 9, 2022, at his home surrounded by family at the age of 85. Ray was born to E. H. (Nig) and Ruby Holcomb in Roaring Springs, Texas on November 26, 1936, and was a 1955 graduate of Roaring Springs High School.
Ray married Marilyn Gwinn on July 7, 1961, at her parents’ home in Roaring Springs and would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this year. They lived their first three years in Matador where Ray was employed at Matador Ford Dealership. Moving to Floydada in 1964, he was employed by Reed Ford Sales, where he remained for over 40 years as a service manager and mechanic. He also worked with the John Deere dealership in Floydada as Service Manager several years prior to making a move to the John Deere dealership in Childress, TX.
Due to a serious injury, Ray was forced to retire and returned to Floydada where he raised livestock and loved tending to his many cows, horses, and baby calves and colts. Ray was a “people” person who never met a stranger and was continually helping anyone in trouble that came along. He was the go-to guy when you needed help. He was known as the “Watermelon Man” for taking his trailer to Knox City each summer to haul back watermelons and cantaloupes to sell. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing people and meeting new friends that returned year after year. His greatest joy, however, was doing things with his boys, whether it was working, hunting, fishing trips, fixing things, or just being together. There was lots of fun and pranks! Unfortunately, Ray’s health began to fail due to various illnesses and surgeries, resulting in the move to Lubbock to be near his doctors and family.
Those left to cherish Ray’s memory are his wife of almost 61 years, Marilyn; sons, Anthony (Andy) and wife, Deann; Thomas (Tommy) and wife, Farrah; nephew, and “3rd son” Morris Keele and grandchildren; Chris Holcomb; Chelsey and husband, Scott Rogers; Hayley and husband, Bo Helm; Jordan and husband, Bryan Wardroup; Braydn Farris; and great-grandchildren, Luke Holcomb; Daniel and Andi Helm; Wesley Ray Wardroup; and sister-in-law, Mary Holcomb.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wayne and Melvin Holcomb; sisters, Gladys Keele and Mavis Parks, and great-grand baby; Ivan Creed Wardroup.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of Church in Roaring Springs, Floydada, Childress, and Lubbock Kings Ridge.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18th at the Church of Christ in Matador, TX.
