Dick Austin Rundle's Obituary
Rundle, Dick Austin Died peacefully in Dallas on August 7th, 2009 from complications related to cancer. Dick was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on November 21, 1930. He grew up in the many small oilfield towns that dotted the south and southwest areas of the US, and was proud to call Ames, Oklahoma “home.” Dick married Joan Wade of Sapulpa, Oklahoma in 1950. After graduating in 1953 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University), he served four years in the US Army. Dick worked as an engineer, manager, and executive in the onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling industry in various locations around the world. Dick’s work took his family to Venezuela, Colombia, Libya, England, Oklahoma, and Texas. After retiring from Cactus International in the 1980s, Dick focused his attention on his true passions: his grandchildren, his woodworking and his golf. He was a longtime member of Northwood Club. In 1990 Dick began volunteering with the United States Golf Association as a rules official. His main work was organizing and running championship qualifying events in North Texas. He also had the good fortune of being invited to referee at the US Open and other major USGA championships. Because of his innovative work, the USGA selected Dick to receive its 2009 Joe Dey Award, the highest honor a volunteer can achieve. Dick was a gentleman in every sense of the word, greeting everyone he met with a smile and hearty handshake. He was tenacious in his beliefs and extraordinarily generous with his time and advice. Dick was preceded in death by Joan, his wife of 57 years; his son, John Rex; his sister, Jane Van Hooser; and his parents, Mabel and John Rundle. He will be greatly missed by his loving family members: daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Sam Hyde of Irving; daughter, Elaine Tricoli of Cedar Hill; daughter, Ann Rundle of Dallas; grandson and wife, John and Nicki Hyde of Keller; and granddaughter, Laura Tricoli of Frisco. A funeral service will be held at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas on August 12th at 12:30 PM. Visitation will be at Restland on August 11th from 6-8 PM. Burial will be in Ames Cemetery, Ames, Oklahoma. Instead of sending flowers, Dick’s girls think he would be pleased if those wishing to do so would make a donation to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charitable organization. .
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