Richard Earl Spurlock

Retired, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4), Richard Earl Spurlock, 90, of Salado, Texas finished his race, won his battles and went home to be with Jesus on September 24, 2023 at 8:18pm. He passed away at home surrounded by family.

Preceded in death by: infant daughter, LaWanda Kim Spurlock; Parents, Mary Denning Spurlock, and Edward Earl Spurlock; Brother, Thomas Edward Spurlock; Sister-in-law, Deloris Ann Spurlock; and Brother-in-law, Kenneth Lee Shupert.

Left to cherish the many memories are his wife of 60 years, Patricia Ann Hardin Spurlock; Son, Kevin Richard Spurlock and wife Robin; Daughter, Julie Nicole Spurlock Smith and husband Paul; 6 Grand Children, Tabitha Tate, Jacob Spurlock, Liza Spurlock, Aubrey Mullins and husband Doug, Paula Short and husband Randy, Mason Smith and wife Remy; 6 Great Grand Children and 1 on the way; Sister Carolyn Kay Spurlock Shupert; Several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Born January 15, 1933, to Mary and Earl Spurlock in Lucasville, Ohio, but grew up and spent most of his youth in West Portsmouth, Ohio.

Richard met Patty at the Cameo Café in Portsmouth Ohio in 1957 and married in 1963 at the Bigelow Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Richard graduated from West Portsmouth High School in 1952 and immediately went into the Air Force until 1956 and then into the Air Force Reserves until 1961. Then, in 1961 he transferred to the Army National Guard until 1962. In 1963, he transferred to the United States Army, active duty, where he was accepted into the Warrant Officer Pilot Training Program in 1964 in Fort Walters, Mineral Wells, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. From 1966 – 1968, Richard was a flight instructor for Southern Airways and in 1968 he was deployed to Vietnam, serving 2 tours. During his service to the United States, he was deployed and served in Puerto Rico, France, Vietnam, and Korea. CW4 Spurlock retired in 1980 from Fort Hood Texas and began his 10-year career as a commercial pilot with Bandas Industry in Temple, Texas. He served in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and eventually became the Commander in Chief and achieved the rank of Colonel.

During his military career, Richard was awarded many medals and honors which include the following:

Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/numerals 18, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserves Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Service Stars, Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, and the Master Aviator Badge.

While he was not considered to be a "religious" man, Richard did believe that there was something much bigger than himself. At the age of 86, he accepted Jesus as his personal savior, and we know that we will see him again one day!

Dad believed in honesty, truth, and integrity; a man's handshake was his word, and better and more important than his signature; he believed in hard work and determination. He believed that striving for perfection would lead to a level of excellence. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons that Kevin and I have and hold to integrity and strong work ethics. Between him and our mother, we had all that we ever needed and most of what we wanted. He was not always the perfect husband or perfect father, not a perfect man (nobody is) but he loved and cared for his family the only way he really knew and understood. He will be missed dearly but we rejoice in knowing that he is whole, healed and walking the streets of gold, or flying among the clouds because he certainly had a passion for flying! Fly high Daddy….. fly high!

Service date and time pending and will be held at the VA Memorial Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.