Richard D. Dennis

Richard Dix Dennis, 79, of Ranger, passed away at 2:20 pm on October 10, 2014, at Abilene Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Services are 12:00 pm Tuesday, October 14th at the Church of God in Ranger, Texas. Followed by burial in Oakland Cemetery in Gorman, Texas. Visitation is 4-6 PM Sunday, October 12th at Edwards Funeral Home Eastland.

Richard served more than 20 years with distinction in the United States Army, enlisting in 1952 during the Korean War, and retiring in 1973 with the rank of Master Sergeant. While in the Army, his duties included heavy artillery fire control crewman, area communications system operator, and fixed communications station chief for Berlin Brigade in West Berlin. Communications was his chosen field, and he taught courses for five years at Army installations in Georgia and Kentucky. He served all over the world, at installations in Alaska, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan and New Jersey, as well as posts in South Korea, West Berlin, and a tour of duty in Viet Nam during the height of that conflict. He was awarded a number of medals and commendations, such as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Army Commendation Medals (one with Oak Leaf Cluster), and four Good Conduct Medals, his last with Bronze Clasp and five loops. He was also commended in 1960 for ideas that helped improve military operations.

After his retirement, Richard remained active in communications, obtaining his 1st Class FCC Engineer’s License in 1980 and serving as Chief Engineer at KERC Radio in Eastland. Later in life, he turned his life over to the Lord and became an ordained minister, and was active in preaching and the music ministry. Richard was also an avid writer, penning a number of fictional short stories and religious poems for the enjoyment of his family and friends.

He married Rose Mary Ishmael on September 13, 1983, in Breckenridge, Texas, and added to his large and loving family.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Mary, of Ranger, and his first wife, Norma Gail Dennis of Eastland; three sons and their wives, Daniel and his wife Doris of Fort Worth, Scott and his wife Janie of Burleson, and Robert and his wife Jeannie of Tarentum, PA; a daughter, Martha Meazell of Eastland; a stepson, Randy Jones of Jacksboro; three brothers and their wives, Clifton and his wife Linda of Ranger, Doyle and his wife Gracie of Katy, and Tim and his wife Tammy of Gorman; a sister, Clara Jo Ward of Holly, CO; eleven grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer Nolt and her husband Brent of Burleson, Andrea Dennis of Fort Worth, Chad Stephens and Jeremy Stephens, both of Abilene, Krystal Meazell of Eastland, Ethan and Alyssa Dennis of Tarentum, PA, Randy Jones, Jr. of Jacksboro, Amy Walston and her husband Bobby of Ranger, Cody Jones and his wife Jessica of Eastland, and Sara Germany and her husband Kevin of Cleveland, TN; and ten great-grandchildren, Caleb, Levi and Jacob Nolt of Burleson, Kaylea Walston of Ranger, Alex Murdock of Eastland, Brayden and Chase Jones of Eastland, and Taylor, Brayden and Savannah Germany of Cleveland, TN. He was preceded in death by his father, Eulan Lee Dennis, his mother, Hettie Thompson, and a stepson, Charles Jones. He was dearly loved and will be missed by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and many wonderful friends.