Roll Call Tribute

Alvin Lee Ringo 

September 15, 1938 - October 17, 2023 

Alvin Lee Ringo, of Hallettsville, TX and Las Vegas, NV, peacefully went to his heavenly home surrounded by his loving family on October 17, 2023. Alvin, 85, was born September 15, 1938 in San Saba, Texas to James Orvel (Dutch) and Dorothy (Prescott) Ringo. He later lived with Ed and Frances Witten in Lampasas, Texas while attending high school.

He graduated from Lampasas High School in May 1957, excelling as a four-sport letterman, senior class vice president, and captain of his football team. His senior year, he was voted school favorite and senior favorite.

Al went on to Southwest Texas State University on a football scholarship for 3 years. He met the love of his life, Frances Louise Dolezal, on a bet. She was dared to kiss him by his best friend for $5. From there, he took a liking to the Bohemian part of her, as he wrote in her college yearbook. They were married November 27, 1959, in Hallettsville, Texas at the First United Methodist Church.

He transferred to Texas A&M University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in May 1962. He received his Master of Education from Sul Ross State University in 1975. He was an educator and coach for 35 years all over the great state of Texas and won numerous district and state titles. He was a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and was inducted into the SBA (Soul Brothers of America) club in Refugio, Texas, in 1967. One of his favorite memories was being part of the coaching team for the 1989 Whataburger All Star basketball game, where Shaq O’Neal was a member of the team and teased him non-stop about how short he was.

To know him was to love him. He was loved for his shy and quiet personality, his one liner quips and jokes, his dance moves, and his sweet and sometimes mischievous smile. He adored his many students, athletes and fellow coaches. He cherished moments with family, indulging in his favorite pleasures: Watching old western movies; Blue Bell ice cream; cold beer; Dolly Parton; dominoes (his favorite saying was “if you can’t count - then cut”); golf (known as Diamond Al on the course); picking and shelling pecans, especially since he was from the Pecan capital of the world, San Saba, Texas. But most of all, he liked to cut a rug dancing with Fran to country music and old-time rock and roll.

He is preceded in death by his parents Dutch and Dorothy, The Wittens, and his brother Sam Ringo.

Al will be deeply missed by his wife of 64 years, Frances; his children, son John Alton Ringo (Tamerah) of Dallas, daughters Rhonda Ringo Olewinski (Gregg) of Las Vegas, Lisa Ringo Johnson (Jay) of Las Vegas and his 8 grandchildren, Brandy Bunch Pendergraft (Cody), Britt Bunch Veasey (Brian), Haley Ringo Price (Bryan), Olivia Olewinski Pickering (Brad), Alexis Olewinski, Justine Johnson Begley (Keegan), Jason Johnson(Gabi) and Jackie Johnson; and 10 great-grandchildren, Hunter and Avery Grant, Grace Pendergraft, Harrison Hayes and Hartlee Ringo Hayes, Jack Ringo Veasey, Mason and Miller Pickering, Isaac and Isla Begley - who lovingly called him Pawpaw; twin sister Jessie Marie (Ringo) Bissent, brothers Jimmy, Bobby, Donny, Tommy, Jackie, and Randy Ringo, and Jan Witten Sewall, and many loving and cherished nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Al will be held on November 4, 2023, at Faith Community Lutheran Church, 3505 S. Town Center Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89135, at 11 am.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.