Richard Travis Pafford

Richard Travis Pafford, age 82 of Turnersville, went to meet his Savior on Friday, October 30, 2026, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Pastor Jon Crosby officiating. Private family burial will follow at Turnersville Cemetery. The family will welcome visitors one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Richard was born on April 22, 1944, in San Saba, Texas, the 16th of 17 children born to Raymond and Naomi Pafford. He ended up being the last of the 17 to walk this Earth.

Following graduations from San Saba High School and Tarleton State University, Richard served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. After being honorably discharged, he moved to the Gatesville area and met the love of his life, La Rue Pruitt, in 1972. They married in 1973 and not long after established roots for their family in Turnersville, where he became a pillar of the community and deacon in Turnersville Baptist Church. He retired in 2006 from Kalyn Siebert, where he first worked as a welder before moving into quality control and logistics. An avid outdoorsman, gardener and volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club, he deeply loved his Lord, his family and his country.

Richard leaves behind his wife, La Rue; six children: Lisa McCutcheon and husband Ernest of Gatesville, Tony Burke and wife Melinda of Gatesville, Billy Burke and wife Susan of Clifton, Brett Burke and wife Julie of Gatesville, Christie Heneghan and husband Shaun of Alvarado, and Jeremy Pafford and wife Antoinette of Waukesha, Wis; 23 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren (with another on the way); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and one grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Turnersville Baptist Church, 8120 FM 182, Gatesville, Texas 76528.