1931-2021
With great sadness, the family of Richard Lee Vickers announces his February 26, 2021 passing. Richard was beloved for all of his 90 years and will be sorely missed. The fourth of six children, he was born at home, in Kansas City, Kansas, on January 26, 1931 to Ethel Edna and Samuel Henry Vickers. During his childhood, Richard’s family lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arizona, finally settling in Coalinga, CA in 1943. In 1978, Richard relocated to Bakersfield, CA.
The Vickers Family, while not materially prosperous, worked hard, loved one another, and attended church regularly. Richard left school at age 15 to work full-time at a cotton gin to help provide for his family. He went to work in the oilfields at the age of 17 and continued this work into retirement. Richard took a lot of pride in a job well done and enjoyed the camaraderie among oilfield ‘roughnecks.’ He served as foreman for various drilling and oil production companies, with his longest tenure served with Oil Well Service. Tough, but fair, he would never ask the men to undertake anything that he would not do himself. Richard’s word was his bond.
A cowboy at heart, he was an active member of the Coalinga Caballo Club, where he served as president in 1977-78. Along with owning and riding horses, Richard enjoyed visiting family and friends, telling stories, playing poker, camping, hunting, John Wayne movies, being a fan of the Dodgers, and reading the complete works of Louis L’Amour. He was also an avid dog-lover, especially his long-time companions, Shelby and Bailey.
Richard married Geneva Vickers in 1948, and they raised three daughters. Thirty years later, he married Betty Wallace, and gained two more daughters and a son. Richard loved all of his family and was intimately involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Richard is survived by his siblings, Betty Jo Dunn of Fresno, Bill Vickers of Reno; six children, Sandra Popejoy and husband, Michael, of Taft, Cheryl Vickers of Coalinga, Jennie Ragsdale of Coalinga, Patricia Board and husband, Fred, of Lewiston, ID, Jim Wallace of Lewiston, and Penny Wallace of Bakersfield. His grandchildren, Eric, Alan, Heather, Terry, Rick, Jeremiah, Amber, Bryon, Jimmy, Bryan, Nicholas, Alexander, and numerous great-grandchildren survive him.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Vickers family.
