W.R. "Dick" Crick

WILLIAM RICHARD "DICK" CRICK, 89, of Bellville, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2010, in Bellville. Dick was born October 27, 1920, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The son of Walter Hosmer and Pauline Amanda Watkins Crick, he grew up on a farm in Hinton. On June 12, 1940, he married Virginia Owens in El Reno, Oklahoma. Dick served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1944 - 1946. After his honorable discharge, he and Virginia made their home in Brenham, then Houston, before moving to Bellville in 1964. Dick worked in the oil business. He got his start at the age of seventeen as a rough necker, and from 1954-1958, he was part owner of Southland Drilling Company in Victoria, Texas. For the next four years, Dick was employed as General Superintendent of North Central Oil Corporation of Houston. After moving to Bellville, he owned and operated the Western Auto Store. In 1975, he opened Austin County Real Estate with Sammie Pierce, Ronnie Farrington and Gerald Tegler. Active in community affairs, Dick served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Bellville, as a Deacon for the Bellville United Methodist Church and President of the Bellville Retailers' Association in 1965. He was also selected as Citizen of the Year. He enjoyed volunteer work with the elderly and clowning at the Shriner's Burn Institute, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Children's Ward and the Children's Hospital. He was a member of the Bellville Masonic Lodge #223, AF & AM, the York Rite, Scottish Rite, Knights Templar and the Shriners, and received the Golden Trowel Award for exceptional service in 1990. Dick was a hard worker throughout his lifetime. He was a very giving and honest person, and a friend to all. Dick and Virginia loved traveling in their motorhome with the Astrobagos and the Good Sam Club members. Virginia preceded Dick in death on July 29, 2009. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his son, Dr. William R. "Dicky" Crick, one sister, Cornelia Vandenert, and brothers, Robert Crick, Frances Crick, Kenneth Crick and Charles Crick. He is survived by his CHILDREN: Candy Justice and her husband, Curtis, of Houston, Jessie Sharman and her husband, Michael, of Sunderland, England, and Charles "Buddy" Crick of Salt Lake City, Utah; GRANDCHILDREN: Chase Crick and Trey Crick of Richardson, Adam Crick of Bellaire, Curtis Justice, Jr. of Garland, Joy Clendenin of Waco and Eric Boyd of Wylie; 11 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; and many other dear friends and relatives.