Richard Tallmadge Dempsey, "Dick" to his friends, passed away on July 26 at the age of 88. His youngest son, Bob, was with him. Dick was born in Denver, Colorado and moved to Las Vegas, NM before joining the Navy at the age of 18 in 1943. He subsequently received a Fleet Appointment to attend the US Naval Academy graduating in 1947. During his 12 years of service in the Navy he served four years at sea (USS Spokane, USS Oriskany and USS Gyatt), was an instructor at the US Naval Intelligence School, and was an intelligence analyst during the Korean War. After leaving the Navy in 1955 he moved with his wife Barbara to El Paso to work for his father Frank at Rio Grande Machinery Company. Subsequently he entered the real estate business and then joined the newly established Surety Savings Association. He advanced through the company before ultimately becoming President and Chairman of the Board. After retiring from Surety he served on the Board of Capital Bank for several years where his continued leadership proved invaluable.
After retiring Dick lived with Barbara in El Paso for many years until her death in 2008. Their lives there were filled with friends, fun, travel and love. There is not enough space to list all of his friends and colleagues and those who knew him, without exception, would agree that he was a wonderful human being. More than this he was a beloved husband, dad, granddaddy, uncle and son. He lived by example and made all of his family grateful to have him in their lives. Dick and Barbara are together again and we rejoice in the knowledge that they are once again dancing in each other's arms.
Dick is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Holliday Dempsey. He is survived by his brother Don Dempsey, his son Richard "Dick" Dempsey Jr, son Robert "Bob" Dempsey and his wife June Mizer Dempsey, his daughter Julie Dempsey O'Keefe and her husband Patrick O'Keefe, and daughter Laurie Dempsey Molina Fitzpatrick and her husband Michael Fitzpatrick. Grandchildren are Tamara Dempsey LaFollette, Thomas Dempsey, Carey Dempsey Worrell, James Dempsey, Hailey Molina and Julie Molina. Great-grandchildren are Connor and Alex Dempsey, Krystal and Sean LaFollette, and Maddie and Gavin Worrell. Services honoring the life of Dick Dempsey will be held at First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 from 11:00am until 12:00pm, with the Funeral Service at 12:00 pm officiated by Pastor Neil Lock at the First Presbyterian Church 1340 Murchison. There will also be a reception at the church from 1:00 until 1:30 pm. Mr. Dempsey will be laid to rest at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Harding Orr & McDaniel Funeral Home. www.FunerariaDelAngelHarding.com