Richard Lopez

Richard Lopez, Sr. entered eternal rest on the morning of January 26, 2022 after many years of battling Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia (LBD). Leaving behind his wife of 25 years, Sylvia Posada Lopez, sons Ricardo Jr., Antonio, Javier, daughter, Amanda Posada Nunez, and 10 grandchildren, Richard gave us a lasting legacy of service for his nation and all those lucky enough to have known him.

Richard was born and raised in El Paso, Texas in April of 1944. Here in Chivas Town, he found many passions and an enduring zest for life. As a child through young adulthood, Richard could be found exploring the heights of the Franklin mountains, working on his prized 1955 Chevy Bel Air (two door hard top for those keeping count), or letting his entrepreneurial if not mischievous spirit thrive. He even offered haircuts at great rates complete with shoe polish to cover those imperfections his scissors left behind. Through all of his adventures, Richard found that helping others was just as rewarding as enjoying time spent with them.

After graduating from Austin High School, Richard earned the opportunity to join the few and the proud as a United States Marine (oorah!). With years of running track (ideally suited for the high hurdles with his long legs as he liked to explain) and treating the rugged desert southwest as his playground, he was body was well-conditioned to excel in boot camp. He proved himself to be an expert marksman with a passion for artillery, Richard quickly rose to the rank of Staff Sargent. He soon found himself filling a wide array of assignments and would have remained in active duty longer if not for an administrative technicality that stunted his military career. While he earned an honorable discharge and soon began a successful journey as a business owner, he remained a Marine for the rest of his days.

Richard never waivered in his commitment to our nation or his fellow servicemembers. He was always available to listen or recall incredible stories of those around him. The memories others shared of him, however, are enthralling. From swapping premium food earmarked for officers with his fellow enlisted men to pulling his future compadre Sal Diaz to safety while aboard an airborne helicopter, he was always there for those who needed him. His oldest sons have fond memories wandering the USMC Reserve Center with him while he served as a Reserve Marine. They formed lasting memories exploring heavy ranged weapons and Brasso polished uniforms galore. Simple but meaningful experiences like these come up with just the mention of his name. It seems everyone has a favorite story of their time with him.

Richard built several thriving minority owned small businesses spanning across as many as seven states with million dollar sales figures. Focused on construction supply and safety equipment, he found his commitment to others and love of powder actuated tools to be a natural fit for his personality. Suddenly the adventurous child from Porter Street began to see the products he sold become key ingredients in El Paso’s booming construction. If you’ve been in a building or driven on a road worked on from the late 1970s to today, odds are you’ve benefited from his hard work! Through Chaparral Supply, RL Supply, and later Fasteners Inc., he sold bolts, anchors, traffic marking paint, and first aid kits just to name a few things. Yet it was his enduring relationships with others that made his stores so special. People came back time and again not just for the quality products and customer service but because of him.

Richard was a remarkable person. He instilled the value of service to others in his children through his behavior, patience, and connection with all he interacted with. He cheered them on in their volleyball games, waited hours on end at debate tournaments, and took them horseback riding and fishing. He brought them on sales trips to the potash mines in New Mexico and taught them the secrets of throwing a fastball, making a good cup of coffee, and preparing the best food using an underground smoke pit (sweet vermouth soaked burlap bags do wonders). It seemed there was no subject he wasn’t an expert in and no lesson that could be overlooked.

The love he shared didn’t stop there. Countless others have fond memories of how special he made them feel. From that bag of warm popcorn in his store, hay ride on his ranch, or cooked to order steak at his house during frequent gatherings, he kept his doors and heart open to us all. To have known him was to experience the warmth of sunshine even on a cold winter’s day. A lover of football and a committed Dallas Cowboys fan, friends and family could be found eating a bowl of menudo and pistachios with him on Sundays to watch the game. Easter egg hunts with camouflage eggs at his house were a special treat for kids and parents alike. He made time for people, helped them laugh, and shared his hard won lessons with them when they needed his encouragement. The time he spent with us was meaningful.

Throughout his life, Richard loved deeply and pursued his passions with dogged perseverance. He lived his life in a way few could duplicate. If there is a lesson to be learned from his time with us, it is to appreciate and nurture our connections both big and small. Those that come into our lives - no matter how briefly - can benefit from a warm smile or act of kindness. He showed us it’s good for them and fulfilling for us.

Richard will be missed but the love he shared will live on in our memories and the lives he touched. The world is better thanks to the life he led. It is up to us if we have the courage to do the same for others in his absence. As only he could say, let’s get that thing going!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelKM.com for the Lopez family.