Roll Call Tribute

Published in (San Antonio) Express-News on June 9, 2018

Richard Lloyd Pipes(1930 - 2018)
November 28, 1930 - June 1, 2018

Richard L. Pipes, "Dick" to those who knew him, died in Boerne yesterday at the age of 87.

He was born in San Antonio, Texas to Lloyd Franklin Pipes and Elsie Mecke Pipes. He moved around with his family while his father was in the cattle business. settling in Lytle, Texas on the Tuerpe Ranch where he spent his youth. His days were filled with the life of a cowboy, driving cattle across country from Lytle to Pleasanton and performing other chores on the ranch.
He and the family settled in Pleasanton as he entered high school where he graduated at the age of 16.

Dick matriculated at Texas A&M as a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and graduated in the class of 1951 with a bachelor's degree in wildlife science and a United States Air Force commission. As an air force lieutenant, he piloted the B25 Mitchell bomber.

Shortly after graduation and entrance into military service, Dick met and married the love of his life, Olive Joyce Walker of Port Lavaca. They were married on Christmas Day, 1951 in Jourdanton. They were inseparable for the next almost 67 Years.

A son (Randy) was born at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma in October of 1952 and a daughter (Riki) was born in Jacksboro in 1955. They moved back to Pleasanton in 1959 where Dick began a teaching career in the sciences and physics.

He completed work on a master's degree in education from The University of Texas in 1965 having become, in 1964, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio where he remained until retirement in 1984.

His retirement years were filled with ranching at his Salt Branch Ranch south of Pleasanton and becoming involved in environmental causes and wildlife management. He is a past state president of The National Audubon Society.

Dick and Joyce travelled extensively throughout the world.
Dick spent time on all seven continents during the course of his studious and intellectually active life.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Virginia.

He leaves behind his wife Joyce, his son Randall Pipes and wife Dianne of San Antonio, his daughter Riki Drury and husband Tom of Boerne, and nephew Damon Bell (who Dick and Joyce considered a second son) of San Antonio. He leaves behind his grandchildren Lara Dean and husband Ronny of Boerne, Kyle Charles and wife Casey of Houston, Nathan Pipes and wife Joyce of St. Charles, Missouri, Andrew Pipes and wife Shannon of Laramie, Wyoming, and great nephew and niece Ryan and Kaylie Bell, both of San Antonio. He also leaves behind 7 great-grandchildren.

Richard Lloyd Pipes was a special person of enormous intelligence and wisdom. He loved life and especially the natural world. As a secular humanist, Dick neither feared death nor looked forward to it. He lived fully and touched many lives as a teacher, philosopher, and friend. The human world is poorer without him. The earth, with all the wonderment and mystery he loved, will endure and he will be part of it forever.

Following cremation, Dick's family plans a private ceremony and a scattering of his ashes at his beloved Salt Branch.

In lieu of other gestures of condolence, the family urges all who cared for Dick to lend support to any of the following organizations: The National Audubon Society, The Sierra Club, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, The National Geographic Society.
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(Published in) Pleasanton Express on June 05, 2018

Richard Pipes

By Rebecca Pesqueda | on June 05, 2018

Richard Pipes

November 28, 1930 – June 1, 2018

Richard Lloyd Pipes, “Dick” to those who knew him, died in Boerne at the age of 87.

He was born in San Antonio to Lloyd Franklin Pipes and Elsie Mecke Pipes. He moved around with his family while his father was in the cattle business, settling in Lytle on the Tuerpe Ranch where he spent his youth. He often talked about having to ride his horse “Johnny Bay” five miles to catch the school bus in his elementary and junior high days. His weekends were filled with the life of a cowboy, driving cattle across country from Lytle to Pleasanton and performing other chores on the ranch. He and the family settled in Pleasanton as he entered high school where he played football and baseball until graduation at the age of 16.

Dick matriculated at Texas A&M as a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and graduated in the class of 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science and a United States Air Force commission. As an air force lieutenant, he piloted the B25 Mitchell bomber.

Shortly after graduation and entrance into military service, Dick met and married the love of his life, Olive Joyce Walker of Port Lavaca. They were married on Christmas Day, 1951 in Jourdanton. They chose Christmas Day because that was the only day Dick could get leave from his military duties. They were inseparable for the next 66 Years.

A son (Randy) was born at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma in October of 1952 and a daughter (Riki) was born in Jacksboro in 1955. They moved back to Pleasanton in 1959 where Dick began a teaching career in the sciences and physics.

As an amateur baseball player in the old Bluebonnet League, Dick was noticed by talent scouts from professional baseball. He was offered a minor league contract to play for the independent Corpus Christi Aces. But family obligations and his teaching career took priority even though Dr. John Austin had offered to financially aid his bid to make a mark in pro ball.

He completed work on a master’s degree in education from The University of Texas in 1965 having become, in 1964, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio where he remained until retirement in 1984.

His retirement years were filled with ranching at his Salt Branch Ranch south of Pleasanton and becoming involved in environmental causes and wildlife management. He is a past state president of The National Audubon Society.

Dick and Joyce travelled extensively throughout the world. Dick’s interests in science and the natural world as well as history were the drivers of many of their journeys.

Dick spent time on all seven continents during the course of his studious and intellectually active life.

He and Joyce left their home in Pleasanton and moved to Boerne in Dick’s last years to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Virginia.

He leaves behind his wife Joyce, his son Randall Pipes and wife Dianne of San Antonio, his daughter Riki Drury and husband Tom of Boerne, and nephew Damon Bell (who Dick and Joyce considered a second son) of San Antonio. He leaves behind his grandchildren Lara Dean and husband Ronny of Boerne, Kyle Charles and wife Casey of Houston, Nathan Pipes and wife Joyce of St. Charles, Missouri, Andrew Pipes and wife Shannon of Laramie, Wyoming, and great nephew and niece Ryan and Kaylie Bell, both of San Antonio. He also leaves behind 7 great-grandchildren.

No obituary can capture the true essence of a life well lived. Richard Lloyd Pipes was a special person of enormous intelligence and wisdom. He loved life and especially the natural world. As a secular humanist, Dick neither feared nor looked forward to death. He lived fully and touched many lives as a teacher, philosopher, and friend. The human world is poorer without him. The earth, with all the wonderment and mystery he loved, will endure and he will be part of it forever.

Following cremation, Dick’s family plans a private ceremony and a scattering of his ashes at his beloved Salt Branch. In lieu of other gestures of condolence, the family urges all who cared for Dick to lend support to any of the following organizations: The National Audubon Society, The Sierra Club, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, The National Geographic Society.