Richard Vernon Higginbotham Sr.

Richard, known to the family as Vernon, graduated from Tyler High School and received his BS and Masters degrees from the University of North Texas. He married his wife Geneva in 1956. He served as a Sergeant in the US Army and was stationed in Colorado where his son, Ricky, was born in 1958. The family returned to Irving, Texas where he began his teaching career as an elementary teacher in 1960 and became an elementary principal in 1965. His daughter, Lisa, born in 1967 and the family moved to Timpson, Texas in 1968 where he became the Superintendent of Schools for Timpson ISD. He served in that role for 28 years, retiring in 1996.

He taught and directed Language Camps for foreign exchange students through EF Education First for 25 years. He and Geneva hosted 13 foreign exchange students for their High School year in the United States and placed many more in homes around East Texas. Their time with EF allowed them to travel and make friends from all over the world. The students became their other children who stayed in touch and brought joy when they came back to visit.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Owen and Dovia Helen Higginbotham, wife Geneva Higginbotham, son Richard Higginbotham, Jr., brothers John Watt, James Mark, Roland, Nolan, and Charles Higginbotham, sisters Juanita Ward, Helen Chastain, Dovia Lamb, Edna Mullins, Dorothy Lamb, and Lillian Meriwether.

He is survived by daughter Lisa Higginbotham, daughter-in-law Katrina Higginbotham, grandchildren Carmen Higginbotham and Walter Pond, and Kamren Higginbotham, great grandchildren Kelsey and Cade Laird, Kilynn Higginbotham and Logan Hammonds, and Kristian and Anthony Lake, and great great grandchildren London Laird, Marcus and Lillie Lake, numerous exchange students, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Graveside Service will be held at a later date in Tyler, Texas.