Richard B. Vacek

Born on Oct. 20, 1922, Dick will be most remembered for his dry sense of humor, his love of his wife Claudia "Billie" Vacek, who preceded him in death on Sept. 20, 2011, and his dedication to his grandchildren.

Dick is survived by his daughter-in-law Gwen Vacek; his grandsons Jeff, and his wife Amanda, and Tim; and his great-grandchildren Matthew, Emma, and Hannah. He was preceded in death by his two children Dick, Jr. and Claudia.

Dick and Billie, who became more known as Papaw and Mamaw than their given names, would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Feb. 15. Their devotion to one another became stronger after losing their children, and even stronger still after Dick suffered his first stroke five years ago.

Dick was a salesman for most of his life, selling large land-moving equipment, but later in life, his priority became selling laughs to his grandchildren. Papaw always had a way to make Jeff and Tim laugh as they were growing up, and he had a knack for spoiling them just enough.

Whether it was playing golf with Jeff while he was in college or taking Tim to James Coney Island to get a No. 1 with Delaware punch, he loved doing things with his grandsons.

Dick was a faithful member of the Church of the Epiphany in Houston for several decades. He was born in Jacksonville, Texas to an immigrant father from the current Czech Republic and a French cajun mother; he served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1942-46.

He was an avid reader and solver of crossword puzzles, who loved gadgets, clocks, and feeding the birds and squirrels in his backyard. He also had eternal hope for the Astros.