Donald R. Raney

Donald Ray Raney was born on 24 August 1933 about one mile south of the Hoard Community in Wood County, Texas. He passed away and joined his wife Geneva in Heaven on 7 August 2020. Donald graduated from Mt. Vernon High School and attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with honors with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1957. He was employed as an Engineer for Lone Star Gas Company and retired in 1997 as Director of the Engineering Department with 43 years of service. Donald received a ROTC commission in the Air Force and served three years active duty. After 28 years service in the Air Force, Texas Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1985. He has been an active genealogist for over 40 years and has presented hundreds of lectures and seminars to various genealogy societies and genealogy conferences. He has taught Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Genealogy Classes at DCCCD Richland College for twelve years. Donald was preceded in death by his parents Jeff Donald Raney and Birdie (Palmer) Raney; wife Geneva Nell (Campbell) Raney; son David Wayne Raney; grandson Shaun Carl Raney; brother Joe Doyle Raney. He is survived by his son Donald Raney, Jr.; daughter and son-in-law Donna and Ron Wilson; grandchildren; Brianna Raney, Justin Seay, Alan Phipps, Gunnar Seacrest and Courtney Raney; brother and sister-in-law Dan Wayne Raney and Marian Raney; sister and brother-in-law Tricia and Michael Cole; sister Beth Vinsant; sister-in-law Lois Raney. Donald is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews and other family. The funeral to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of Beaty Funeral Home in Mineola. Graveside service with military honors will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Wood County.