Richard Morales Balderrama

Richard (Rick) Morales Balderrama, 75 years old, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 27, 2015. He died peacefully at his ranch home in Manor, Texas. Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Elena, sons Mark and Brad, step children Paco and Kenia, brothers Edward, Raul and Arturo and his sister Ernestine Kubicek. Rick also had numerous nephews and nieces as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren who were his pride and joy.

Rick owned Rick’s Jewelers for decades, and for most of those years, operated it with his two sons until his retirement. Rick built a strong local clientele in Austin and central Texas. Friends will long remember him for his friendly smile and conversations at the store, a popular gathering place each day of the week. Others will remember him for his love of golf. His customers became friends, his golf friends became customers, and everyone would spend countless conversations discussing history, current events and never ending jokes and stories that became part of his repertoire wherever he went. Rick’s Jewelers was known to be the anchor for his family and friends to stay in touch with one another. The family always kept in touch because they knew where they could find each other.

Rick’s love for golf was well known to everyone. He gave frequent golf lessons to friends and customers on the showroom floor especially after selling a beautiful jewelry piece. Rick was able to take the vacation of a lifetime by playing 18 holes at The Valderrama Golf course in Spain where the 1997 Ryder Cup Tournament was played.

Rick, the son of Juvencio and Gregoria Balderrama, was born in Natalia, TX and grew up in Brownwood, TX. He traveled the south and other parts of the country picking crops and cotton with his family. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1960 and became a very proud paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, received an Honorable Discharge and later moved to Austin with his family in 1972. Rick was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Alicia Balderrama Maldonado of San Antonio.

Services will be held at Cook Walden Funeral home on North Lamar in Austin on Wednesday, April 1, visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. A rosary will follow.