Services held for teacher, coach Randy Waldrop

Graveside services were Thursday for Carrollton science teacher and coach Randy Waldrop in Robinson, Ill.

Mr. Waldrop, 27, died July 15 of congenital heart valve problems at his Dallas home. Dallas services were Saturday.

He was born in Heber Springs, Ark., and was raised in Kansas City, Mo. He attended Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Mo., where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in coaching.

Mr. Waldrop began coaching in college, assisting with the intramural program. He taught swimming with the American Red Cross during the summers. He later worked as a lifeguard.

Mr. Waldrop was a substitute teacher in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Lewisville school districts before landing a full-time position at Charles M. Blaylack Middle School in Carrollton in January 1996. He was to start at Vivian Field Junior High in Farmers Branch this fall. This summer, he had been teaching summer school at Ted Polk Middle School.

At Blaylack, Mr. Waldrop taught seventh- and eighth-grade science and coached boys basketball and football.

Mr. Waldrop is survived by his mother, Jacque Armato of Kansas City, Mo.; his father, Randy Waldrop of Robinson, Ill.; his grandparents, Rayetta and Waylon Stoker, both of Robinson, Ill.; and his girlfriend, Leslie Martin of Dallas.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

The Dallas Morning News - Saturday, July 24, 1999
Submitted by Betty Lou (Stanley) Dennis