Richard H Attkisson

Richard H. “Rich” Attkisson (aka “Big Daddy”) passed away on November 24th, 2017. Rich was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 8th, 1935 to John Attkisson and Eleanor Knittel Attkisson, the first of five children. The family moved to Elyria, Ohio, when he was young, where he grew up and graduated from Elyria High School in 1953. He joined the U.S. Air Force soon thereafter and proudly served his country for 12 years when he decided to try his wings in civilian life. His first civilian job was with Associates Finance Company, and he was in some type of financing the remainder of his life.

In the mid ‘90s, Rich started his own finance company, R.A. Financial, Inc., financing primarily pre-owned manufactured homes. In 1992 he started a manufactured homes’ sales lot (with a small “trailer park”) Tori Homes, Inc. in Austin, Texas. He sold it all in 2001 and “retired” but continued with his finance company.

Rich loved sports! He became a true Texan, rooting for all teams Texas, except for his beloved Cleveland Browns and Indians and Ohio State University. Rich and his wife, Dorothy, were avid Spurs fans and season ticket holders for 40 years. When they couldn’t use their season tickets, they gave them to the Wounded Warriors organization. They followed them to play offs in Madison Square Garden when the Spurs won their first championship and in Cleveland for their 2007 victory. They had season tickets to Dallas Cowboys games and UT football tickets for several years and had fun times with friends at tail gate parties. One of Rich’s proudest moments was when he was a senior at Elyria High School. Rich and several of his buddies did not make the high school basketball team—so they formed their own team sponsored by the YMCA, and won the Tri-State Championship.

Rich became an avid golfer at Northern Hills in the late ‘70s, played in tournaments in Coushatta and McAllen, and loved the Reno and Las Vegas courses. Rich also loved to hunt and fish. He belonged to a hunting lease in Boerne, along with his brother-in-law, Bob Seiler, for over 40 years. They not only shot their own game, but processed it into fantastic sausage and panus, the German name for “scrapple”.

Rich and Dorothy enjoyed bowling, ballroom and country western dancing, entertaining friends and family, and travelling—they visited London twice and went on multiple cruises including Alaska, the Panama Canal, and the Mediterranean.

Rich was very active in his Church, the Cibolo St. Paul Evangelical Church. He served on the Church Council, was co-chairman on the annual free Community Christmas Breakfast, and served monthly on the Church’s “Outreach Project”, serving free meals to needy citizens in the community.

Rich was a very generous, outgoing, fun-loving individual and often commented how blessed he and Dorothy had been through the years by having large, very loving families, as well as many, many great friends. Rich especially loved all family gatherings, and Christmas was special to him. “It doesn’t get any better than this!”

Rich is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy “Dolly” Katt Attkisson; daughter Kristina Attkisson and son Richard, Jr., Arlington, Virginia; step-daughter and son-in-law Karen and Alfred Mitchell, San Antonio; step-son and daughter-in-law Keith and Joane Rylander Williams, Austin; four granddaughters: Alice “Ali” Attkisson, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Brooke A. Attkisson, South Carolina; Cara E. Attkisson, Fairfax, Virginia; and Kasey A. Johnson, San Antonio; sister and brother-in-law Eleanor and William “Bill” Parmenter; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Pam Attkisson; brother Robert “Bobby” Attkisson, all of Elyria, Ohio, and sister and brother-in-law Ruthann and Jim Nemeth, Wakeman, Ohio; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sylvia and Robert “Bob” Seiler, San Antonio, and sister-in-law Viola “Bootsy” Norwood, Abilene; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Ohio, Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Rich is preceded in death by his parents and nephew William “Billy” Parmenter.

Visitation will be held at Sunset Funeral Home on Austin Highway, on Tuesday, November 28th, from 6:00 to 800 P.M. Funeral Services will be held at Cibolo St. Paul Evangelical Church, 108 South Main Street, Cibolo, at 10:00 A.M on Wednesday, November 29th. Services will be conducted by Pastor Jason Ford and Rev. Chester Sassmann. Burial services will be at Sunset Cemetery, Austin Highway, in San

Antonio. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you contribute to the Cibolo St. Paul Evangelical Church, Boysville, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, San Antonio, TX.