C.R. (Charles Ralph) McFarland of Sabinal passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by family on Friday, March 24, 2017, at age 91. He was affectionately known as “Mr. Mac” throughout his community. McFarland was born on April 2, 1925, in Maywood, Illinois to Ralph and Irene McFarland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Irene McFarland; his wife, Evelyn McFarland, of 51 years; and his two sisters, Joyce McFarland and Glenda Delott. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Pat McFarland; children Michael McFarland and wife, Pearl, of Greenville, Texas; step-children Anthony Anizan and wife, Barbara, of Pearsall, Texas; Jeanette Blount of Luling, Louisiana; Robert Hudson and wife, Rita, of Castroville, Texas, and Paul Hudson and wife, Alissa, of Fredericksburg, Texas; brother-in-law Tommy Titsworth and wife, Silvia, of Comfort, Texas; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. McFarland was a three-sport letterman at East Proviso High School when he graduated in 1943. Upon graduation, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and moved to San Antonio, Texas, for basic training at Lackland AFB. McFarland ended up at “Gunnery School” at Laredo AFB. From there, he was assigned to Big Spring and became a bombardier. After that he flew on a B-17 and was a flight officer. He flew missions over the battle fields, making two trips to Austria to pick up French prisoners of war. McFarland came back to San Antonio in August of 1945 for training in B-29s to get ready for assignment in the Pacific and ended up making the area his home. When he came back to San Antonio, he enrolled for 12 hours at night school at Trinity University and played football for a semester. From there, he landed an athletic scholarship. He also played basketball as a guard and was first baseman on the Trinity baseball team. He is in an elite group of former Trinity athletes who lettered in three sports. Upon completing his education, McFarland spent the next 54 years in public school education. He was enticed to Sabinal in 1953. During his time in Sabinal, he was hired as a principal, but also was an assistant football coach and girls’ basketball coach. He also coached track and baseball. For the last 19 years prior to his retirement, he was superintendent of Sabinal Independent School District. McFarland was a community leader, active volunteer, and a deacon of First Baptist Church. He was a lifetime member of the Lions Club, served on the board for the Emergency Medical Services and was an EMS volunteer, served on the Sabinal ISD board of education, Sabinal City Council, Uvalde County Appraisal District’s appraisal review board and was the Sabinal cemetery caretaker. McFarland was elected for open term to the Texas Silver Haired Legislature in the early 1990s. One of many programs he helped launch in the area was the development of the Sabinal Youth Baseball Field. A funeral service was held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sabinal, followed by interment at Sabinal Cemetery. Pallbearers were Brian McFarland, Glen Anizan, Frank Anizan, Robert Hudson, Paul Hudson and Joe Borrego. Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of the First Baptist Church in Sabinal. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Sabinal, P.O. Box 156, Sabinal, TX, 78881; Sabinal EMS, P.O. Box 104, Sabinal, TX, 78881; or Uvalde Hospice, 1038B Garner Field Rd., Uvalde, TX, 78801.
THE PRECEDING IS A PAID OBITUARY.