Roll Call Tribute

Charles Fredrick "Rick" Dibrell, Jr., Col. USAF (Ret) 

July 30, 1944 - May 27, 2026 

Col. (Ret.) Charles F. “Rick” Dibrell, Jr., USAF, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on 27 May 2026 in San Antonio, TX.

Rick was born 30 July 1944 in San Antonio, TX and grew up living around the world as a military ‘brat’, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, California, Mississippi and in England in Thames Ditton on the River Thames across from Hampton Court. As one of the first 500 families in Bexar County, Rick was proud of his ancestry. He was a descendent of Edward Braden, who constructed the Ft. Sam Houston Quadrangle, clock tower, and San Antonio City Hall alongside other notable San Antonio construction projects.

He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1962 and joined the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets in College Station, TX. During Christmas break in 1966, Rick’s friends set him up on a blind date with the love of his life, Anita “Sneedie” Williams. They were married soon after, and the rest is history.

Rick was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management in 1967. Additional educational achievements included Squadron Officer School (1972), Air Command and Staff College (1977), a Master’s degree in Management from Troy State University (1979), and Air War College (1987).

In June 1967, Rick was assigned as the 824th Services Squadron Operations Officer at Little Rock Air Force Base. During his career, Rick’s assignments included positions at Clinton Sherman AFB (OK), Blytheville AFB (AR), Carswell AFB (TX), Ramstein AB (Germany), Randolph AFB (TX), Maxwell AFB (AL), and Peterson AFB (CO).

Rick moved to the Pentagon (Washington DC) in July 1988 and became the Deputy Chief, Programs Division, and Chief, Manpower Requirements Division, Directorate of Manpower and Organization. In December 1988, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Returning to San Antonio in September 1992, he was assigned as the Commander, Air Force Management Engineering Agency at Randolph Air Force Base. He retired in June 1997.

Rick’s major military awards include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

In his retirement years, Rick was an avid volunteer in his community, including tutoring math at local schools, helping the homeless through Meals on Wheels, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, being a helping hand Valero Texas Open, and supporting various volunteering efforts with St Mark’s Catholic Church.

Rick was a true extrovert and never met a stranger. Fishing at the coast in Rockport, enjoying a good game of golf, attending A&M reunions, meeting with Air Force friends, and attending church every Sunday were just some of the ways he loved to spend time with those he loved.

When he wasn’t watching the Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M Aggies, or golf, he enjoyed western movies. His childhood heroes were Roy Rogers and Randolph Scott.

Since 1973, Rick has worked on his 1965 Triumph and enjoyed cruising around the neighborhood with the top down on a nice day. He also loved his sweets and never turned down a slice of homemade chocolate pie or a good bowl of ice cream.

Annual family vacations at Lake Travis were always a joy with Grandad. He was always up to play a good game of cards, dominoes, shuffleboard, ping pong, or washers, and loved driving the ski boat around the lake with family members aboard.

Rick is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Harmon Dibrell Rogers, and father, Colonel (Ret.) Charles F. Dibrell, Sr.

Rick is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Anita Williams Dibrell, his children Anita Dión Dibrell Hyatt (Lawrence), Charles “Tré” F. Dibrell III (Lori), and Marquel Huebotter (Glen), grandchildren Ashlyn Dibrell Zavodny (Alec), Haley, and Erick Dibrell, Hannah, Ella, and Jake Huebotter, and great-grandchildren Paxton and Beckham Zavodny.

Please join us in celebrating Rick’s life.

Visitation will be held on 25 June 2026 from 5:00PM to 6:00PM with the Rosary recited at 6:00PM at Porter Loring Mortuary – North 2102 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, TX 78332.

Funeral services will be held on 26 June 2026 11:30AM at St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church 1602 Thousand Oaks Dr, San Antonio, TX 78232, with a Graveside service at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30PM, and a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or enjoy a dessert of your choice in Rick’s memory.

IN THE CARE OF
Porter Loring Mortuary - North