He enlisted in the Navy the day after his 17th birthday in 1963. Rick became a Navy Corpsman assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Serving in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967, he received a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart during Operation Hastings (July, 1966). He may have been Navy but he was a Marine at heart! Rick was honorably discharged in October, 1967 finishing out his tour at Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California.
Rick was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Casey Joyce All-America Post 4380 in Plano, a member of American Legion Harding-Blaine Post 321 in Plano, a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and a life member of the Harley Owners Group.
Rick loved riding his motorcycle and trading stories with other veterans. He would never turn down a Budweiser, especially at the VFW or Legion where it was always “Just one more, brother”.
After being discharged, Rick found a career working with computers, first writing programs and later working as a mainframe systems programmer. His work had him moving frequently but he finally settled in the Dallas area.
Rick is survived by his companion of 35 years, Liz Ibex; his daughters Danielle Shrake and husband Marc and April Fox and husband Eric, all of Phoenix Arizona. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 1 step-grandchild, and 7 great grandchildren; his sisters LaRue Uhl and Mona Alonzo and husband Joe and his brother Delbert Bazan, all of San Antonio. Rick was preceded in death by his father Paul Bazan and stepmother Bernice and his mother LaNell Lamm and stepfather Herman.
Memorial donations may be made to Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association via their website https://www.cvmatx23-1.org.
A visitation for Richard will be held Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, 2128 18th St, Plano, Texas 75074.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.TedDickeyFuneral.com for the Bazan family.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.12.1