Richard Wayne Clopton's Obituary
Richard Wayne Clopton, age 92, of Garland, Texas passed away on May 19, 2024.
Dick was born in Jefferson, Iowa on April 3, 1932, to Lester and Mildred Clopton, the fifth of 10 children. He graduated high school in Jefferson, where he played saxophone in the band. On September 8, 1951, he married JoAnn Kepple, and they were married 61 years before her death in 2012.
He is survived by his three children, Vicki Anderson and Randal of Dallas, Rick Clopton and wife Cathy of Garland, and Cara Nanez and husband David of Rowlett; six grandchildren, Michelle Moore and husband Brandon, Clint Anderson and wife Marrisa, Kate Odenwald and husband Eric, Sarabeth Atkins and husband Cameron, Nick Nanez and wife Natalie, and Rachel Hutchason and husband Steven; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother, LD Clopton and wife Gretchen; and one sister Nancy Bunch and husband James. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by 3 brothers and 4 sisters.
As a young child, Dick played the drums in his dad’s band, Lester’s Harmony, with his sisters and brothers. He worked in the construction business with his dad and brothers in Iowa until they moved to Texas in 1954. Dick and JoAnn made their home in Garland where they raised their family, and Dick began a long career at Continental Emsco eventually rising to plant foreman. Dick retired from Continental Emsco in his early 50’s but always found a way to keep busy with jobs like delivering bulk newspapers for the Dallas Morning News and umpiring girls’ softball games for the city league.
In 1987, Dick and JoAnn got a solicitation to visit Holiday Island, Arkansas. Motivated by a free set of luggage and with no intent of relocating, they sat through a sales pitch about a new retirement community in the area. They ended up building a house and finding a community of friends at Dove Circle Baptist Church where they both found salvation in Jesus, were baptized, and became leaders in the church. Dick was ordained as a deacon on September 25, 1994. With activities like square dancing, fishing, and dominoes to keep active, they spent 25 years in Arkansas until JoAnn’s death and Dick’s return to Texas about a year later.
He loved fishing and enjoyed the sport all his life. He would host fish frys for family and friends, often frying more than 100 crappie to feed all in attendance. Dick also loved most other sports and made a great coach for Vicki’s and Cara’s softball teams as well as Rick’s baseball team. His golf game was a strong one until he reached a point where he could no longer “shoot his age.” When COVID hit, Dick decided a new hobby was important during isolation. He remembered building model airplanes out of balsa wood and tissue paper as a child and took up this hobby once again. He built over 130 models and ended up giving many away. Dick was a faithful member of the church choir with a rich bass voice and loved harmonizing.
After being separated from the love of his life for almost 12 years, he is now reunited with JoAnn to enjoy singing, square dancing, Pinochle, and 42.
Dick was excited about First Baptist Church Garland’s new building plans. If you choose, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the building fund in his memory.
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