Obituary

Bobby Ray Wardlaw, 91, of Hale Center, passed from this life to his eternal home, Tuesday, September 6, 2022, in Plainview, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 12, 2022, at Hale Center Church of Christ, with Mike Gray, officiating. Interment will follow at Hale Center Cemetery under the care of Ramage Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Ramage Funeral Directors, in Hale Center.

Bobby was the baby of four children, born on May 2, 1931, at his family home south of Hale Center, to Roy and Audney (Applewhite) Wardlaw. He was called “Baby Ray” by many of his family members. Bobby always had a love for being a “cowboy”. As a young child, he would go and work cattle for other people. He graduated from Hale Center High School where he was well liked, and excelled as a linebacker for the football team. He had offers to go play college football, but declined to stay home and work on the family farm.

Bobby married the love of his life, Edna Hulsey, on November 16, 1952. After deciding that farming wasn’t for him, Bobby worked at C & S Pump Co. for a few years, but working with horses was what Bobby really loved, so he decided to make a living doing that. Bobby trained cutting horses, and was a farrier for most of his adult life. He built quite a good business and had a great rapport with the horse owners around. He shod many horses in his lifetime. Bobby finally gave up shoeing horses when Edna’s health had declined so much that she needed him home to care for her. He did an amazing job of taking care of her for the 66 plus years that they were married.

Bobby was a man of integrity. He was a long-time deacon and elder of the Church of Christ in Hale Center. Bobby loved serving and taking care of people who were in need. He was awarded the Citizen Through the Years Award from the Hale Center Chamber of Commerce in 2014. He was a blessing to all who knew and loved him. Known for his strong handshake and great personality, Bobby will be missed greatly by friends and family alike.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Edna Wardlaw, his daughter, Lydia Ann Glenn, a sister, and two brothers.

Survivors include two daughters, Randa Massey and husband Tim of Hale Center and Darla Kirk and husband Roy of Springtown, and a son-in-law, Jimmie Glenn and wife Sue Jan of Kress. He was blessed with eight grandchildren: John and Katie Brunson, Ricky and Melanie Jones, Jace and Debra Moore, Mike and Natalie Gray, Lindy Thompson, Colten and Whitney Glenn, Kaleb Kirk, and Blaine and Sarah Barnes, and 20 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be made to the New Mexico Christian Children's Home 1356 NM-236 Portales, NM 88130.