Ralph Wade Skaggs, 61, of Proctor, Texas, passed away in his home Tuesday, December 24, 2013. He was born on June 11, 1952 in Dublin, Texas, to Charles and Katie Sims Skaggs.

He married the love of his life, Delores "Lorrie" Jean (Langdon/Hale) Skaggs on March 26, 2005 in Ft. Worth, Texas. She preceded him in death on May 13, 2012. Also preceding him were his parents, Charles and Katie Skaggs, who both passed in 2008, and his beloved nephew, Michael Talbot in 2010.

Ralph served in the United States Air Force and in the early 1980´s he began a life-long love of working with computers and electronics. He was a voracious reader, but he also loved to be outdoors. He enjoyed working with his hands and if there was anything he couldn't fix, then it just wasn´t broken to start with. He had a dry sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes, primarily on his sister.

He gave his life to Christ and was baptized when he was 16 years old. He loved to sing the old shaped-note hymns, because those were the ones he grew up hearing and they touched his heart the most.


He is survived by his much loved children of whom he was very proud; son, Rendell Skaggs of Austin and daughter, Justina Skaggs of Brownwood. Also surviving him are his step-children, Mandy Longoria and husband, Daniel, David Hale and wife, Kaylyn, and Cindy Pecina and husband, David; sister and partner-in-crime, Pamela Skaggs Talbot and brother-in-law, Gene Talbot; niece, Lisa Talbot Groover and husband, Robert; great-niece, Taylor Talbot; great-nephews, Hayden Groover, Chase Talbot and Spencer Groover; aunts, Joyce Sims Marks and husband, Bobby, LaVerne Sims Melcher and husband, Harvey, Ona Mae Odom and husband, Jay, and Francis Howard; uncles, Bobby Skaggs, Gene Skaggs, and Harold Dean Skaggs and wife, Shirley; and numerous cousins and friends. He was a quiet man, but he leaves a big hole in our hearts.

Graveside services were held Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. in Gardens of Memory Cemetery of Erath County with Rev. Gene Talbot officiating.