Ricky William Bettinger, Sr.

Ricky was born in Waco, Texas to Leon & Mary Bettinger. He attended schools in Waco, and during his high school years at Richfield, played football in 1958 for the Junior Eagles and graduated from high school in 1961. He was later drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam from 1965-1967. Although most of his time in the military was rough, he helped design and build a beautiful church during that period. Ricky was honorably discharged at the end of his term, & came home highly decorated with a Purple Hearts, 2 bronze metals, and a silver star.

Toward the end of 1970, Ricky met Judy Elizabeth Crow in Waco. Judy was working at Arby’s and Ricky was working next door for Texas Steel, as an architect. Their first date was February 19, 1971. They quickly feel in love, exchanged wedding rings, and began planning their future. They bought their first home together in 1972 and later that year, had their first child, Patricia, in October. In July of 1975, Ricky Jr. was born.

Ricky continued his career of architecture/engineering that eventually led him to start his own company, Pyramid Construction, where he retired from in the early 2000s. In his spare time, Ricky loved to work on cars, his Cessna airplane, build model and RC airplanes, and spend time with his and Judy’s dearest friends, Eddy & June Ward. Ricky and Judy were part of the Confederate Air Force. During this time, they drove a truck filled with items they would sell to raise money for the Confederate Air Force. Ricky was also one of the founders of the VFD in Downsville, Texas. Ricky and Judy loved to go to Port Aransas, where they stayed in a condo on the beach, people watched, explored the area, and ate wonderful seafood.

Ricky loved his family & closest friends and looked out for all of them.

Ricky is preceded in death by his parents, Mary & Leon Bettinger; father-in-law, Clifford Crow; brother, Lynn Bettinger; and brother-in-law, Mike Harris. He is survived by his wife, Judy Bettinger; daughter, Patricia Bettinger Hoke; son, Ricky Bettinger Jr. and wife, Cheyenne Bettinger; five grandchildren, Jude Hoke, Leylanie and Myrna Reyes, JR and Bella Bettinger. He was also survived by a sister-in-law, Betty Bettinger, and Donna Harris.