Richard Joseph Caldwell

Richard Joseph Caldwell was born October 19, 1942, in Kansas City, Missouri. His parents were Robert Andrew Caldwell and Jeanne Louise Kessler Caldwell. Richard peacefully went to his heavenly home on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Richard attended Kansas University where he earned a BA Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry. He earned his Master’s Degree in Computer Science at the University of Missouri. He received his license as a Texas CPA in 1977. He worked for various companies including Samsonite, Price Waterhouse, Colgate Palmolive and US Homes. In 1981, he decided to change the direction of his career and opened his own CPA firm, Richard J Caldwell, PC, CPA. He was always very proud of the fact that he never lost an IRS audit. Richard sold his firm and retired in 2014. Shortly before Richard sold his CPA practice, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. His comment as he left the doctor’s office was that he wanted to travel as long as he could and to just lead him around by the hand if he did not know where he was.

Richard was always looking for ways to help people who are hard of hearing. Richard previously served on the Texas State Board of Speech and Language Pathology and was a board member of Self Help for Hard of Hearing (now known as Hearing Loss Association of America-HLAA), serving on the Finance Committee. A strong believer in education, Richard and Barbara established the Richard J. Caldwell and Barbara M. Stuckey Student Access Fund at Kansas University. He also volunteered as a mentor at the Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. Krause Childrens Center in Katy, Texas. He loved helping high school students learn how to manage their finances through Financial Mentors of America in Katy, TX, where he volunteered in the Game of Real Life several summers. He was a long-time volunteer in the food pantry at West Houston Assistance Ministries and in the formation of Family Hope in Fulshear, TX. He was a Master Gardner and raised antique roses and orchids.

Richard married Norma Worthington on August 24, 1968 (divorced in May, 1989) and from that marriage were born Katherine Claudine (Dinee) Caldwell Peters-Bell, born May 24, 1976, and Marc Christopher Caldwell born December 9, 1982. Dinee, Marc and Marc’s wife, Heather Michelle Shaffer Caldwell, reside in Houston, Texas.

Richard married his “Saintly Bride” Barbara Kay Miller Stuckey on January 16, 1999 and resided in Houston, Texas. Barbara is the mother of James Medford Stuckey who was born January 6, 1971. James and his wife, Mary Smart, reside in Portland, Oregon.

Barbara has been a strong, loving, and supportive wife for 26 years. Together they volunteered their time and resources to help many people directly and through a variety of charities. After Richard’s retirement in 2014, they travelled throughout the world to all their bucket list places at least once, accumulating over 600 nights of cruising travel. Church life was at the center of their lives, and they enjoyed fine arts and live theater.

Richard is survived by his wife, Barbara, two brothers, Terence John Caldwell and Christopher Gerald Caldwell, his daughter, Dinee and son, Marc, and three grandsons, James Kameron Achilles Stovall, Maximus Clayton Caldwell and Christopher Blaze Caldwell, and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Jeanne, and three brothers, Donald Andrew Caldwell, Michael Robert Caldwell and Kevin Thomas Caldwell.

A memorial service will be held at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2400 Wilcrest, Houston TX 77042, on Saturday, February 1, at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested in Richard’s memory to the memorial fund at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2400 Wilcrest, Houston, TX 77042, Richard J. Caldwell and Barbara M Stuckey Student Access Fund, Fund Account Number 41308, KU Endowment, Kansas University, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045 or Alzheimer’s Association, 6055 S Loop E, Houston, TX 77087.