“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4: 7
Devoted son, husband, brother, uncle, WWII veteran, historian, and friend, Ridgell M. McKinney passed away peacefully at his home with family on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 in McKinney, TX. Mr. McKinney was born on April 7, 1914, and was the great-great grandson of Collin McKinney, a signer and co-author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Ridgell was born in McKinney, TX, the youngest child of John B. and Annie Magers McKinney, who both preceded him in death in 1968. He enjoyed a happy childhood in McKinney with his siblings, Drury, Joe, Collin, Clara, J.B., and Armyn—all of whom have predeceased him. Ridgell married the love of his life, Preble (Peggy) Douglas, on November 9, 1939. She died in January of 1967 at the young age of 49.
Ridgell’s career as manager of Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) was ended with his enlistment in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He served in the European Theater with the 15th Air Force, completing 50 heavy bombardment missions as aerial engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 over Germany and allied countries. Following overseas duty, he was assigned as an instructor at various Air Force bases in the United States, and later headed the supply department at the Veterans Hospital in McKinney for a number of years before its’ closing.
Ridgell McKinney was the first, and most “senior” graduate of Boyd High School, receiving his high school diploma at the age of 94. A great historian of Collin County Texas, Ridgell is a recognized and honored member of the Collin County Historic Preservation Group.
He is survived by his nieces, Shirley Reddell Cooper and her husband Don of Perryton, TX, and their family; Carmyn McKinney Neely and her husband Joe of Dallas, TX, and their family; and a nephew, Joe Charles McKinney and his wife Mary of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and their family. He is also survived by numerous members of the Douglas family in Texas, Colorado, and Georgia, including Gil Wyman who was like a son to him.
His life of devotion to family and the legacy of Collin McKinney will be celebrated in a service at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, October 13th, in the sanctuary of the First Christian Church of McKinney, where he was a lifelong member. Family will receive friends on Saturday at Turrentine-Jackson Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m.