Richard Oneil Bailey

Richard “Rick” Bailey November 28, 1948 – April 7, 2025 A man who lit up a room, loved hard, worked with pride, and never missed a chance to a joke.

Richard (Rick) Bailey, 76, of Gambrills, Maryland, passed away on April 7, 2025, surrounded by the people who loved him most. Born on November 28, 1948, Rick lived a big life—full of laughter, love, and a healthy dose of mischief. In 1971, he married the love of his life, Mary Bailey, and together they spent 54 wonderful years side by side. Theirs was a love built on humor, loyalty, and the kind of partnership that made everything better.

Rick was many things—a devoted husband, a proud father, a business owner, and the reigning king of inappropriate jokes. He and Mary raised six kids: Rodney, Mark, Richie, Mary, Ricky, and Chris, each of whom inherited his sharp sense of humor, his stubborn spirit, and quite possibly his ability to yell at the TV like it was a two-way device. He also leaves behind his siblings—Erania, Joe, Bill, Mary and Tim who knew him as the one most likely to keep everyone laughing.

To his 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, he was simply Pop Pop—a title he wore with pride. Pop Pop was the man with the best heart and a wild collection of one-liners that made the grown-ups blush, and the kids laugh.

Rick owned and operated The R & M Electric Co., where he worked with integrity, skill, and a motto that pretty much summed up his no-nonsense, good-hearted nature: “If it doesn’t work—you don’t pay.” He approached everything in life the same way—honestly, directly, and always with a bit of humor.

When he wasn’t working or helping someone fix a broken outlet, Rick was doing the things he loved most: sipping Dunkin’ Donuts decaf, watching the Cowboys (and shouting at them), testing his luck at the slots or 3-card poker table, yelling at horses like they owed him money, or cracking open a pile of crabs.

He didn’t need the spotlight—he was the light. Rick had a gift for making people laugh, a heart that gave without hesitation, and a spirit that made everyone around him feel like family. He lived boldly, loved deeply, and always told it like it was—whether you wanted to hear it or not.

Family and friends are invited to gather at the Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services, PA, 1 2nd Avenue, SW ,(at Crain Highway), Glen Burnie, MD 21061 on Monday, April 14th, from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 PM. Where a Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, April 15th at 11 AM to honor Rick and the unforgettable legacy he leaves behind. Graveside Services and Interment to follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park. 

In lieu of flowers, we ask that people donate to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org and the family invites you to raise a cup of Dunkin’ decaf, cheer a little louder for the Cowboys, and place a small bet on a horse with a funny name—because if there’s one thing Rick taught us, it’s to enjoy the ride, laugh when you can, and never take life too seriously.