Richard Randall Spurlock

Richard “Dick” Spurlock passed away on June 18, 2021, in the presence of family and loved ones. He is survived by his younger sister, Loretta Bowman; three sons, Mark, Stuart, and Scott; their respective spouses, Lacey, Misty, and Leori; six grandsons, and three granddaughters – all of whom loved him dearly.

Dick lived for 91 eventful years, the embodiment of Socrates’ dictum that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Born in Globe, AZ in 1929, his early childhood was shaped by the hardships of the American depression, and subsequently, World War II. Dick always worked. As a young boy he was expected to contribute to the family: cutting and bailing hay, driving a plow or tractor, breaking horses, and milking cows all contributed to the development of a lifelong passion for achievement, purpose, and excellence.

At the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Navy, deploying for four years during the Korean War. After returning from Korea, he took a job in eastern Nevada as a trapper for the Department of the Interior. Dick possessed a spiritual connection to land, water, and animal alike. At the age of 83, he could still traverse the trails of his twenties without map or compass, and always felt at home in the wilderness.

Receiving his acceptance to the Border Patrol Academy, Dick left for El Paso, learned Spanish, graduated, and was assigned to San Diego, CA, where he married his first wife, Ruth Jean Craig, and started a family. Thus began a 30-year career with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). His early years in the Border Patrol often found him working with a dog: whether driving a jeep through the hills bisecting San Diego and Tijuana, or working a bridge outside of Van Buren, Maine, his canine companions were always part of the family. Dick and his family moved to San Antonio in 1964, seeking medical care for his eldest son. After a quick stint in Houston, his next assignment, in 1976, was to the INS Regional Office in Burlington, Vermont, as a senior Immigration Examiner. In 1978, he was promoted and reassigned to St. Thomas, USVI, as the INS Officer-in-Charge. In 1980, he was promoted and reassigned to the Central Office in Washington, DC, Office of Refugee, Asylum, and Parole, where he was instrumental in formulating the first asylum regulations and proposal for an Asylum Corp of Officers. Dick met his wife, Susan Strong, in 1977 in Burlington. They were married in Annapolis, Maryland in 1982. Also in 1982, he was promoted and reassigned to Baltimore as the INS District Director where he finished his career and retired in 1985 with over 30 years of service. Upon retirement, he moved back to Vermont and took a job in a sail shop.

Dick enjoyed sailboat racing on Lake Champlain and the Florida Gulf during much of his retirement. Sailing was another way for him to make lifelong friends, and as a championship sailboat captain, he filled many walls and shelves with an array of trophies, photographs, and plaques. He later moved to the San Antonio area to be near his children and grandchildren. More than anything, he loved to laugh. Many, many nights were spent with Tecate, a tequila shot, Willie Nelson, and a roaring fire where stories were told and laughter was everywhere. We already miss him.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.