Richard Lee DeSalme “Dick” went joyfully to see his Lord and Savior on September 30, 2024, after a full day of being surrounded by his loving family at his home in New Braunfels, Texas. Dick was born on September 16, 1936, in Waco, Texas to Orrin Richard DeSalme and Francis Rogers DeSalme and was the second born of their four children.
Although born in Waco, he was raised in Corpus Christi. He was a 1955 graduate of Roy Miller High School where he was voted as a “class favorite” and lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Dick attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated from Texas A&I in Kingsville with a B.B.A. degree in Marketing. He proudly served our country as a Reserve in the U.S. Marine Corp.
Dick met the love of his life and soulmate in Corpus Christi after being set up on a blind date with his future wife, Joyce Barnes. They were married in 1962 in West Columbia, Texas, and she has remained faithfully at his side ever since. When they married, Dick began his long career in the gas industry with Houston Natural Gas and then with Entex when the two companies merged. He served in various positions for the company in Beeville, Alice, and Dickinson. In 1976 he was transferred to Baytown as Bayporte District Manager and later promoted to Vice President and Division Manager in Beaumont. His last move was to the beautiful city of New Braunfels in 1987 as Vice President and South Texas Division Manager, where he worked until retirement after 34 years with the company.
Although proud of his career and work ethic, Dick’s greatest accomplishment was his strong faith in his Savior Jesus Christ and loving his family as husband, father, and Papaw. Two of his proudest moments was the birth of his two loving daughters, Diana and Rhonda. He embraced and led his family of four as a strong Christian man, and he and Joyce shared with their girls the meaning of faith, love, family, and courage. His legacy of love also touched his four adoring grandchildren, Caroline, Courtney, Dawson, and Taylor and his great-granddaughter Violet. Papaw loved his grandkids unconditionally and had a remarkable ability to share his wisdom, positivity, and encouragement in their lives.
Dick will be remembered for his gift of gab and always having a story to share. He loved talking with people young or old, anytime, anywhere. For years the people of his neighborhood would see him walking daily, always stopping to chat or just wave hello. He loved to play golf, fish, read his bible daily, and do yard work. He was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed many hunts at his ranch in Brady, Texas. Dick was an active member of the New Braunfels Church of Christ where he attended regularly. This place of worship also held a special meaning in his heart because he had the precious opportunity to watch his oldest granddaughter get baptized, and then later in life, he himself baptized his remaining three grandchildren. He always encouraged his loved ones with these words that he tried to live out daily, “Keep Christ first in your life.”
Family meant everything to Dick. He was preceded in death by his loving older brother, John DeSalme, his precious nieces, Michelle Crawford Hunt and Marti DeSalme, and nephew, John DeSalme, Jr. Dick is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joyce Barnes DeSalme, a daughter and son-in law, Diana and Kyle Dodson, and daughter Rhonda Preiss. He was a loving Papaw to his grandchildren and their families: Caroline Cashion Michaelis, Cole Michaelis, Violet Michaelis, Courtney Cashion, Dawson Preiss, and Taylor Preiss. He is also survived by his brother Tom DeSalme and wife Judy, his sister Estelle Crawford, and his adoring nieces and nephews.
Visitation will begin 10:00 AM Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Zoeller Funeral Home and will continue until service time. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Zoeller Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope Hospice New Braunfels.
