Richard C. Trippel

Richard "Dick" Charles Trippel, 102
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Richard "Dick" Trippel, a man from the greatest generation, who lived up to everything his generation strived for – he loved his family, loved his country, worked hard, and truly enjoyed life. Dick passed away on February 20, 2025. He leaves behind five children, eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren (with another one on the way), along with numerous nieces and nephews all whom loved him dearly. We are comforted to know that he is reunited with the love of his life, his wife Rita, his second wife Helen, his second son, Michael, his daughter-in-law, Donna, his parents and his eight brothers and sisters and his dear friends Mary Powell and Phyllis Winborn.
Dick was born December 19, 1922, to Mary A. Wolf and Fredrick A. Trippel in Mishawaka, Indiana, the youngest of nine children. He grew up during the Great Depression, and often talked about how they grew their own produce and how his dad and his siblings had to sacrifice during those difficult times. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1940. Dick served his country in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a Sergeant from 1943-1945. He was stationed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where he met his future bride, Margaret "Rita" Theresa Shaw. The beloved Bishop Emmett Doyle married Dick and Rita in 1946 in Edmonton.
Dick and Rita embarked upon their epic journey and moved to Indiana where Dick attended Indiana University. Shortly afterwards, they followed Rita's parents to Los Angeles where Rita's father, John Shaw, was a professor at Loyola University. Dick transferred to, and later graduated from Loyola, He even took a few courses from Professor Shaw, and said he was great instructor!
In 1950, Dick began a long and fruitful career in the oil and gas industry with Western Geophysical in Los Angeles, California. He traveled a great deal for work and the family moved to Milan, Italy for a year where Rita gave birth to their fifth child, James, in 1957.
Western's founder, Henry Salvatori, proved to be a great friend and mentor, and Dick worked his way up the ladder at Western over a wonderful 38 year career that included relocating to Houston in 1969. He drove the family down I-10 East until they hit Houston and never looked back.
Rita was the love of Dick's life and together they raised six children with births spanning from 1948 to 1964 - it was the baby boom! Rita had a great sense of humor - she had to with four crazy boys. They built a wonderful life together and were always very active in their neighborhood Catholic parishes. Rita and their children were always first, then all things sports, traveling, entertaining friends, and his love of great food, drink and generosity were legendary. When the kids were growing up, he made time to coach little league baseball, taught his daughter how to properly rebound a basketball, and he was a huge fan of Notre Dame football and the Houston Astros.
Tragically, Rita passed away in 1987 from pancreatic cancer, just a year after Dick retired from Western. After her death, Dick spent a few years traveling. He visited Canada and then went off to Europe with his brother Carl. After his travels, he became reacquainted with a high school girlfriend, Helen Houghton. They became close and after a time, he married Helen and moved back to Mishawaka. They were married for 12 years until Helen passed away in January 2003.
Dick elevated every person he encountered with his self-deprecating humor and his ability to really connect with them. He would often talk about the Trippel Credo – stumble, fumble and flop. Most folks he met were taken in by his interest in them and his ability to get a laugh with a wink and smile.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Frederick, wives Rita and Helen, and eight siblings, his son Michael John Trippel, his daughter-in-law Donna Sue Heinlein, who was married to his son James. He is survived by his children, Richard Jr "Buck" (Claudia); Michael's wife Tammy; Steve; Pamela (Rick) Baker; James; Diane and his grandchildren, Jennifer Cress (Alex), Catherine Dammasch (Oliver), Ricky (Quinn), John (Christin), Elliott (Krysta), Sarah (Ryan Doskocil), Timothy, Matt; great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Ryleigh, Alana, Skylar, Amelia, Owen, Wyatt and one on the way (Sarah and Ryan); and numerous nieces and nephews including his beloved nieces Sarah Funck and Barbara O'Keefe.
Dick's spirit lives on in all the many lives he touched with that wink and sweet smile. Please join us in celebrating his life.
The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Klein Funeral Home - Cy Fair Northwest, 9719 Wortham Blvd. Houston, Texas 77065. The Rosary will follow visitation at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, 11507 Huffmeister Road, Houston, TX 77065, officiated by Fr. Vincent Tran and Fr. Richard Johnston. A committal service with military honors will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. Those wishing to sign the guest book may do so online by clicking HERE.