Dick Standefer

1946 - 2002

Dick Standefer, 55, a dentist, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday at Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, 209 E. Wardville, Cleburne.

Dick Standefer, M.S., D.D.S., was born Aug. 15, 1946, in San Angelo. He was raised in Wilson and received his bachelor's degree from Angelo State University in 1968. He went on to receive his master's degree from the University of Texas at Permian Basin in 1978. Dr. Standefer taught school in Midland for 13 years before he went on to receive his doctorate of dental surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1985. Upon his graduation from dental school, he was awarded the prestigious Professionalism Award given by the instructors of Baylor. Dr. Standefer moved his family to Cleburne in 1985 and began his dental practice. During his 17 years of practice, he served in the American Dental Association, the Texas Academy of General Dentistry, as a director of numerous committes for the Fort Worth district of the dental society and president of the Fort Worth chapter of the Academy of General Dentists. He was the Fort Worth AGD nominee for Texas Dentist of the Year in 1994 and 1998. Dr. Standefer helped organize the Cleburne chapter of the AGD, the Cleburne Dental Study Club.

He was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter and had been to Guatemala, Honduras and Argentina on dental mission trips to assist the children and people of those countries. He went on these trips with St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Fort Worth.

Dr. Standefer loved life, his family, his friends, his dentistry and the outdoors. Since the birth of his only grandchild, he had become better known as just "Big Dad." Big Dad, you will be missed only for now...we will see you soon - where the eagles fly. We love you, Big Dad.

Dr. Standefer was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Standefer; his mother, Ida Boyd; and beloved brother-in-law, Dean Breedlove.

Survivors: His wife of 32 years, Judy; son, Ralph; daughter-in-law, Tracey; grandson, Grant Standefer; sister, Marcia Breedlove of Austin; brother, Joe Mike Boyd of Dallas; nephews, Michael Beeman and Scott Breedlove; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Pete and Cleta Beeman of Kermit; brother-in-law, Doug Beeman and his wife, Sandra, of Odessa; aunts, Evelyn Nelson, Patsy Grochowsky and Sue Mahon, all of Slaton; and many cousins.