Richard Franklin Outlaw

Richard Franklin Outlaw, of Groesbeck, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2015, at his residence, with his wife and daughter at his side. He was age 68 (one day short of his birthday.) Visitation will be Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Major Ernest Fullwood (Salvation Army, New Jersey) and Reverend Steve Nance (First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck) officiating. The Salvation Army Brass Band from Killeen will provide music, with Mrs. Sue Leach leading the congregation in one song, and Amalia Munoz and Raul Munoz providing vocal and guitar for one song. Pallbearers will be Chris Henson, Josh Christian, Ron Garrett, Jim Cox, Jerome Christian and Joseph Christian. Richard was born October 26, 1946 to Albert Morris Outlaw and Ruby Lee (Bryson) Outlaw in Groesbeck. With his father in the military, Richard lived and attended school in various locations, graduating from high school in Washington State. Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on the same day that his dad retired; however, his Dad was later recalled during the Vietnam War and so father and son were in the Air Force together. Richard served two tours in Vietnam, working in counter-intelligence and electronics. After twelve years he was ready to go back to civilian life. Richard led a wild and courageous life in his younger years competing in bull riding and car racing. He attended the University of Texas and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Texas State (TSU) at San Marcos. He moved to California where he was plant manager for Carnation Can, and then he was employed by the Salvation Army. He met his wife, Sondra K. Smith who was also in the Salvation Army while in California. They were married December 31, 1989 in New York, where he moved to work for Soudronic for the next five years. Then he dedicated his life to serving first as a soldier and then as a pastor in the Salvation Army, as did his wife Sondra. One of his missions of service to the world was a short stint in Zimbabwe, Africa where he rebuilt a water plant and worked on the baby incubators. Richard and Sondra served at their first church in Beacon, New York for six years and then volunteered to go to Moscow, Russia, where they served in the Territorial Headquarters for three years. He and his wife and his daughter found their time in Russia to be a wonderful experience. However, his father and step-mother had illnesses back in Groesbeck, so they relocated to Killeen. Richard retired from the Salvation Army in 2004 due to his own illness, and they moved to Groesbeck in 2008. Richard was an active member of the Groesbeck community, serving on the City Council (until moving outside the City), where he along with Mary Zeman established the Groesbeck Youth Advisory Council “YAK” to involve young people in city government. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, preaching, working with VBS and the Bethlehem tour, as well as active in the Methodist Church at Thornton. He volunteered for the elementary school reading program, and served on the board for the Mexia State School Supported Living Center Human Rights. Richard was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Outlaw in 1973; his step-mother, Dorothy Outlaw in 2007, his father, Morris Outlaw in 2013; brothers-in-law, Jeff Langley in 2011 and Danny McCorkle in 2013; and grandchild, Taylor Lee Keith. He is survived by his wife, Sondra K. Outlaw of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Ruby Lee A. Outlaw-Keith and husband George Keith of Martinsville, VA.; three sons and daughters-in-law: Joey and Kellie Christian of Oregon, Joshua and Nicole Christian of Wappinger Falls, NY, and Jerome and Shari Christian of West Hurley, NY; grandchildren: Donald Peyton Keith III and Richard Bennett Keith of Martinsville, VA, Noah, Hannah, and Nikolas Christian of Wappinger Falls, NY, Sadie and Kaydence Christian of West Hurley, NY, and Brian and Myranda Kay Christian of Oregon. He also leaves behind his sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Ron Garrett of Lake Limestone; sister, Cathy McCorkle of Waco; sister, Kim Langley of Groesbeck, and sister and brother-in-law, Debra and Bobby Wilson of Groesbeck, and many nieces and nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salvation Army, P. O. Box 551, Martinsville, VA 24115.