Roll Call Tribute

Richard W. Denney, Sr.
October 18, 1928 - January 3, 2021

Richard W. Denney Sr., devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend, irrepressible Aggie (class of 1949), servant of our Lord, dedicated and talented engineer, passed away suddenly late in the evening of January 2, 2021. He had not been ill, and was watching his beloved Aggies play their final game of the season.

As an engineer, he worked in manufacturing, sales, management, and consulting well into his 80’s, and set an example of work ethic few around him could match. He received his engineering degree from Texas A&M in 1950, and then added a master’s degree from the University of Houston. He was a leader within the Houston Materials Handling Society, and designed materials handling systems ranging from belt conveyors to oil platform machine handling systems, with his work in use all over the world.

Dick was a committed servant of our Lord, having attended the Bethel Church of Houston since 1963, where he served as deacon and elder for many decades. He taught Sunday school to a generation of fifth graders, and led the missions program at Bethel for many years, among many other duties.

He served in the U.S. Army Security Agency during the Korean conflict as an officer on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Straits of Alaska.

During his time at Texas A&M, he earned the rank of Captain in the Corps of Cadets and commanding officer of his Signal Corps company. He forged friendships there that have lasted to this day, and the ranks of that company, already diminished, are left with yet another gap that can’t be filled.

As a husband and father, he led by example and with clarity and devotion. He leaves behind his inseparable wife of 65 years, Jo Ann, daughter Denise Patronik and her husband Frank, son Richard Jr. and his wife Karla, granddaughters Emily Klepinger and her husband Alexander and Elizabeth Patronik, and many nieces and nephews.