RAYMOND LEE KILGO
07/28/1935 - 08/08/2022
Raymond Kilgo passed away on August 8, 2022 in Waco, Texas with his wife Margaret by his side. Raymond wanted to go to Heaven. He was born 2 months early in Waco and wanted to die in Waco. He was dearly loved.
He was the retired Campus Principal of North Shore Middle School in the Galena Park ISD, a school he had served as a teacher, coach, and administrator since
1963. In 1998 Raymond was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Texas Middle School Association. Planning a new building for North Shore Middle School was a special time with dear friend Edward Gant as the architect
He was the first person in his family to receive a college education despite his childhood experiences of being homeless in Waco, Texas from ages 7 to 14. At age 8 Raymond was selling newspapers at the Railroad Station; at age 12 he was playing music piped at night for factories at the top of the Amicable Building.
During his 7 homeless years, his father always made sure Raymond had something to eat and somewhere to sleep, at the Salvation Army or at the home of one of his classmates. His favorite place was the Boys and Girls Club. His love of baseball at Katy Park and Baylor University resulted in Raymond serving as the Bat Boy for the Baylor University Baseball Team in 1948-1949.
Raymond Kilgo always seemed to have an Angel by his side watching over him, having been born 2 months early in 1935 and homeless for 7 years. In August 1949, everything changed for Raymond. He caught a city bus from South Waco to Bellmead for a 13th birthday party. He met Margaret Ann Lang and walked her home causing him to miss the city bus to South Waco. He went to his mother’s home where his older siblings said to their mother, “If you won’t let out kid brother live with us, we are leaving.” His mother let him in her home.
This was the night in August 1949 that the Angels were there and God surrounded Raymond with love. This is a story that Raymond wanted in his obituary as an inspiration to others and to see the miracles of our Lord. This one night, Raymond met his future wife and was no longer homeless.
Raymond and Margaret Lang were married on December 17, 1955 at the First Presbyterian Church in Waco. Margaret had a Baylor flute music scholarship and was in the Orchestra, Golden Wave Band, Golden Girl Majorette. She loved
Raymond more than she loved music, the flute and baton. She gave up Baylor and worked at Owens-Illinois Glass Factory to support Raymond’s Baylor education. Raymond realized his dream of being the first person in his family to receive a college education. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) from Baylor University and a Masters Degree (MEd) from Sam Houston University in 1974.
In December 1959 their first child, daughter Leigh Ann, was born just months after Raymond’s May 1959 Baylor graduation.
In 1960 Raymond returned to his alma mater LaVega High School as a teacher and coach for 2 years. Coach Paul Smith was instrumental in getting Raymond a teaching and coaching position in the Galena Park ISD at North Shore Junior High, a school where he would spend the next 37 years.
Raymond and Margaret had many friends in North Shore including a 50 year friendship with Joe and Barbara Jones with Raymond and Joe coaching their sons in baseball and the North Shore Heaven Group of dear friends with monthly dinner/ bridge for 30 years and a goal of the same neighborhood in Heaven.
It seemed that there was something about college educations and having babies. In August 1966 Raymond
Lee “Rusty” Kilgo , Jr. was born 2 months after Margaret graduated in June 1966 from the University of Houston. A priority for Raymond and Margaret was their children and grandchildren earning college degrees so funds were established for their 6 grandchildren.
Raymond leaves a memorable legacy of deep love for his family, unselfishness, educational leadership, volunteer coach of youth in baseball and basketball. January 1999, Raymond and Margaret moved to Lakeway. Raymond loved watching his grandchildren play baseball and playing golf with friends, especially Gilbert Boyd who unique view of life was an inspiration for Raymond.
Raymond is survived by his wife Margaret of 66 years, his daughter and son-in-law Leigh and Randy Weisinger; and his son and daughterin-law Rusty and Elizabeth Kilgo. Known as Papa by his grandchildren and great grandchildren Ashley and Taylor with Sawyer and Duke Leatham and Kelsey and
Todd with Harper and Greer Glaesmann; Morgan Elizabeth Kilgo and fiancé Andrew Interto, Kyle Raymond Kilgo, Jackson Robert Kilgo, and Reid Carlton Kilgo, sister-inlaw Margaret Kilgo Kent, and beloved nieces and nephews.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Bert A Kilgo and Edna Kilgo Vaughn; mother and fatherin-law Reta and Morris Lang; Great Grandchildren George Graham Leatham and Lynley Ray Glaesmann; sister and brother Edna Ruth Kilgo Erskine and Walter Carlton Kilgo; brother-in-law Morris Lang, Jr; nephew Benny Booker, nieces Sherry Kelly and Lisa Erskine.
Raymond’s family wants to recognize Dr. Frank Zidar, a highly esteemed and beloved heart doctor at Austin Heart who kept Raymond alive for 15 years.
If you want to honor Raymond Kilgo’s memory, attend or coach a Little League baseball team, walk the halls of your community’s middle school and talk with students and teachers and support middle school teachers.
A Memorial Service for Raymond Kilgo is scheduled at the Lakeway Church; 2203 Lakeway Boulevard; Lakeway, TX. at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2022; Senior Pastor Larry Coulter presiding.
Donations in Raymond’s memory can be given to the Raymond L. Kilgo and Margaret L. Kilgo Baylor University Scholarship for College of Education students, a Boys and Girls Club, and/or a Homeless Program and Shelter.