Claybourne Waldrop

ARLINGTON -- Dr. Claybourne Waldrop Jr., 73, passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2016 in Arlington. Clay was born September 18, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama. Clay lived in many states as a child. He served his country in the US Air Force, and because he spoke Russian, spent his service years in Turkey. Clay obtained his Doctorate in Mathematics from Louisiana State University and was both a former professor and entrepreneur. He eventually settled in the DFW area and became a devoted Cowboys and Rangers fan. With his great analytical brain he gloried in the advent of computers and naturally became a computer programmer. He spearheaded the machine code development for one of the earliest Tandy personal computers. Programming remained his main passion until he discovered the game of bridge after retiring and became an enthusiastic devotee. Clay's obsession with winning applied to any game, even CandyLand. Once introduced to the family favorite game of Joker, any slow play was met by a resounding "Draw Dammit" from Clay. In our family, the phrase remains an appropriate reply, in any conversation, regardless of subject matter. The family is positive that among Clay's effects there are volumes of journals detailing every defeat he foisted on family and friends duly denoted with date, time, weather conditions, witnesses, etc…They will be burned at the family's request. Clay's attention to detail (and perfect printing) led him to catalog numerous volumes of notes concerning every clue ever discovered by Peter Falk's character in The TV series "Colombo" and are time stamped as to the exact moment of discovery. The miles of VHS tapes attest to his quirky interests. He was also an avid scholar of the film works of Hitchcock and Kubrick and was quoted in several articles regarding their work. He is preceded in death by his parents, Claybourne Waldrop, Sr and Avis Margaret Waldrop. Survivors: He is survived by his siblings, Doc Waldrop and Ann Trick, his nephews and nieces, Philip Trick and wife Katy, Justin Trick and wife Jessica, Kristen Trick and Nolan Waldrop, and many, many cousins. As our final loving farewell and the first time we can get in the last word, we say Draw Dammit! Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233