Richard Stockton Meriam, III

Richard was born in San Bernardino, California. He moved a lot as a child--six schools in the first grade as his father was in the Air Force. In the sixth grade he started his first paper route so he could buy himself a pair of Levis. When he was old enough, he worked weekends in an automotive body shop learning everything he could; and, as soon as he could drive, he bought his first car, a 1959 Plymouth, with his own savings.

A diligent and hard worker, Richard worked his way through college bussing tables, laying communication cable in the Louisiana swamp, and working in an ammunitions plant. He proudly served in the United States Air Force Reserves for six years while earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University Institute in 1970. He received his Professional Engineer’s license in 1978. Eventually, he landed a job in Houston where his work would take him to Paris for several years working in the North Sea. He returned to the U.S. in 1976 and managed many other oil and gas pipeline projects across the United States, and in Columbia, Chile, Trinidad, and Azerbaijan while working at Fluor Daniel, Mustang Engineering and Wood Group before retiring in 2020.

Richard's true passion was fixing up old cars and trucks, particularly the classic cars. He loved the process of painting a car and built his own paint booth to finish out the restoration of many vintage cars including Corvettes, Mustangs, Cougars, GTOs, Studebakers, Chevies, a Ford Coupe and Ford Trucks. Multiple vehicles in various stages of restoration were a constant in the back yard. When he helped an elderly neighbor out by buying his antique tractors, he tinkered on those until he got them running and discovered a new interest. He enjoyed riding and moving parts and vehicles around with his tractors as much as he did fixing them up.

Richard loved all animals, showing award-winning Irish Setters as a young boy and then later rescuing over 100 dogs, primarily Rottweilers and Labradors. With such a compassionate heart, he often failed at fostering and his home became the forever home of many dogs. Saturday morning runs to the donut shop always included a bag of donut holes, tossing one into the air for each dog to swallow like a pill. But he said he never spoiled them! And cats were no strangers. Some came to him when he married, others appeared in the yard. Richard never hesitated to take one in. Even Petunia, the possum in the barn, was routinely fed.

Richard was known for his love of Twinkies, Dr Pepper, Oreos, butter cookies, chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, steak and baked potatoes, Mexican food, barbeque and a good whiskey. When not in work clothes, he dressed impeccably in starched jeans, cowboy boots and a cap. He had a memory no one could surpass, remembering dates and details and stories and jokes and the location of every part of every vehicle in progress, and the history and make and model of endless old cars, trucks and motorcycles. He loved history, particularly the era of World War II, and was an avid reader devouring historical novels or crime thrillers within a day or two.

With his late wife, Richard spent many years enjoying being part of the Harley community and they traveled often with friends on their Harleys throughout the country. He was a Life Member of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) having joined in 1983.

An engineer to his core, Richard was always building something. He built fences, he built a shop with all the tools anyone could dream of, he built a rock pond, he built a deck, he built extensions to the barn, he built a greenhouse to accommodate his wife’s growing collection of tropical plants, and last year he lovingly built out a dream art studio for Pilar.

An inspiration to his family and friends, and as a mentor at work, Richard never hesitated to share his knowledge and the endless tips and tricks he’d mastered. He even took the time to teach a small group of middle school girls in a creative competition how to weld, a skill that some have used to this day. He was encouraging, kind, thoughtful and the most giving of souls, literally taking the shoes off his feet to give to a man who had none.

Fifteen years after a stem cell transplant for lymphoma, Richard thought he had been beaten cancer, but esophageal cancer reared its ugly head in 2025. Never having had a cigarette in his life, it was devastating news; yet he marched ahead, enduring many treatments, fighting bravely and always with optimism. His glass was always half full. His family is grateful for the wonderful care and compassion Richard received at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

He was a devoted Baptist whose faith guided him throughout his life. From childhood, he found strength and joy in attending church, and his deep belief in God shaped the way he lived, served, and cared for others. Attending church remained a source of comfort and purpose for him all his days.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife Darla, his parents, a brother and sister and many, many four-legged “children.” He is survived by his loving wife Pilar, his brother Michael, his devoted niece and nephew Nancy and Ray Berkey and their two boys, other nieces and nephews, and many long-time friends along with his two dogs, Lilly and Happy, three cats, Micho, Smokey and Inky, and three fish.

A reserved man of few words, many talents and a generous and beautiful soul, Richard lived a truly honorable life and will be forever missed. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to Southern States Rottweilers Rescue (https://www.southernstatesrescuedrottweilers.org) or to the 100 Club of Houston (https://www.the100club.org).

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."-- Winston Churchill.

Indeed, what a life Richard made!