Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Richard Douglas Partin was born in Lufkin, Texas, to Mary Evie Read and James Ralph Partin in 1938. He was raised with his older brother, James. The boys were always very close. The family moved to Beaumont, Texas in 1940, where his father worked as a machinist and his mother was a homemaker. There wasn't a lot of money. In fact, the boys wore shoes only in the winter and went without shoes in the summer since they couldn't afford them year 'round. With an inner drive, Richard made a choice from a young age to rise above his humble beginnings. He worked hard and excelled in school. He attended Amelia School and graduated in 1956 from South Park High School in Beaumont, Texas. He earned a Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering degree from Lamar State College of Technology in 1962 by working at night for the Magnolia Petroleum Company. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Richard worked in the Apollo Space program for North American Aviation in Downey, California. While there, he obtained a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University at Long Beach. With the ending of the Apollo Project, he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and joined his brother in construction.

This was a move that changed his life forever because in 1972, Richard's brother, Jim, introduced him to a special lady named Dani. The couple had a lot in common and started dating. A year later, on January 14, 1973, the couple married in a lovely wedding ceremony. Richard adopted Dani's twins, Dick and Dobi, and the family was complete. The family embarked on quite a journey moving to Southern California in Richard's 1964 -F100 green pickup truck, affectionately known as "The Green Monster". They lived in Downey and later Cypress, which has been home ever since. Richard returned to work for Rockwell, formerly North American Aviation, where he worked for more than 30 years at TRW, Inc., now Northrop Grumman Corporation, specializing in satellite power systems. He worked on several space programs including the Space Shuttle. The family saw the first Space Shuttle landing. Richard was a part of history.

While he worked hard, Richard was a man who led his life devoted to his family and community. He arose early in the morning and got the kids up to take part in building things. He taught the kids how to work with their hands as they rebuilt engines, straightened rebar, did yard work, and construction projects. As an engineer, there was a precise way to building things. Everything was thought out and calculated. He'd say, "Think before you act. Measure twice, but cut once." It was good advice. Richard also took an active role with his children. He participated in many years of Indian Guides with Dick. Both of the kids played more than a decade of AYSO soccer while Richard worked in a volunteer position as AYSO Commissioner. Sometimes his projects and his children's interests collided. When Dobi went on to AYSO playoffs, he took rebar and built a huge seven-foot circle covering it with paper so the kids could run through it on playoff day. He was a great dad who taught the kids about recycling before it was popular. He had the kids smash aluminum cans and they'd collect newspapers for recycling as well. They also used the newspapers and cardboard to build forts as kids.

As a father he was creative. There were times when the kids were little and they would ride in the toolbox in the back of the pickup truck. There were vacations to Oklahoma every year to visit the family. It took three days to get there but Richard took the back seat out of the 1973 Monte Carlo and built a bed for the kids to sleep on so they'd be more comfortable during the trip. The family sang the Kenny Rogers' song "Lucille" on the trip and they'd even add fun lyrics to it. They'd stop and play in the snow along the way. The family bestowed an award (a little blue Smurf they called the "Doe-dee-Doe Award") for whoever made the biggest goof on the trip. The twins fondly remember Richard having a great sense of humor and he laughed at himself when he received the Doe-dee-Doe award because he left the keys in the trunk lock and the keys froze.

Friday nights were Mexican food nights for the family, but most of the time the family ate at home because Dani was such a wonderful cook. The family sat down for dinner in the evenings and Richard always said a prayer before dinner meals. They enjoyed family time at their second home in the desert at Indio. Every weekend after soccer season ended, the family went to the desert to escape and spend time together. He built a volleyball net over the community pool at the condo and everyone got involved in playing. Always thinking of ways to bring the neighborhood community together, Richard took the family to the mountains and they filled up the back of the truck with snow and brought it home to Cypress. The neighborhood kids would come over and make snowballs and it was an amazing treat.

Richard had many favorites in life. He loved music, especially country music. His favorite song was, "What Was I Thinkin'," by Dierks Bentley. He had hundreds of favorite sayings and he often said, "Life is good!" He enjoyed watching the History Channel on television and John Wayne was his idol which was exemplified by the John Wayne painting above the fireplace. Richard enjoyed gardening and he grew wonderful tomatoes, green beans, and other vegetables. His favorite drink was Brandy. He'd also squeeze fresh grapefruits from his grapefruit tree and mix vodka and grapefruit juice for a refreshing greyhound. He especially enjoyed fishing on his brother's pond, named "Golden Pond" by his wife Dani. On his visit in this past May, he caught a large number of fish, cleaned and froze them, and took them back to Cypress.

Professionally, Richard worked in the aerospace industry for 40 years. After 30 years of service at Northrop, the company gave him a gold watch in appreciation for his wonderful work. In 2001, Richard was granted a patent by the United States Patent Office as the inventor of the Zee Electrical Interconnect which he had developed as a product design engineer.

Richard was a patriotic Republican who believed in taking an active role in the community. When he decided to run for City Council in Cypress, it became a grassroots movement organized in his garage. He drew a map by precincts and the family visited door-to-door. The Green Monster also had a campaign role as he'd drive it all over town with a huge sign on it "Partin for Progress." Richard served as City Councilman for 10 years and he also served 3 terms as the Mayor of Cypress. As a successful leader, he was strong willed and believed in leading and delegating to the right departments. He was always in control as Mayor of Cypress and he'd listen to people. Still working until the end, he was the treasurer of FOLKA, which celebrates cultural arts. Richard also ran the entire Chili Cookoff in the City of Cypress over the last few years. It was a wonderful event that brought families and the community together. Richard entered his "Fire-Breathing" Chili recipe and one year it won the People's Choice Award.

As a grandfather, Richard was the kind of Grandpa you looked up to. He built Eddie a three-tiered fort out of cardboard boxes and he bought Eddie his first set of golf clubs so he could golf with Grandpa at his home in the desert. Eddie and his grandfather shared many special trips to the desert and during his most recent trip he taught Eddie to play golf. Richard had nicknames for all of the grandchildren. He called Cheyenne "Goldilocks" because of her blonde hair. Tristin was "Tank." And Savannah was "Little Dani Lin," because she was a little firecracker. He taught the grandchildren how to swim exactly how he taught his own children. They'd hang onto his shoulders while he swam under water. His children became stronger swimmers because they were unafraid of the water and he was passing that strength in swimming onto the next generation.

Richard had a love of animals and always had dogs and cats as pets in the family. When he found an injured dove, he saved it and nursed it back to health by making food out of a mix of cornmeal and seed. He hand fed it and kept it at home because it had been seriously injured by a cat. The dove named "Bird" lived another 12 years. He also had a family of raccoons that he fed cat food out of his hand or he fed the raccoons goldfish from the water bucket. The raccoons have been happily visiting his home for many years. He had a special love for his current cat, Lord Sebastian, who was really a wonderful companion at home.

The love of his life, Dani Lin, died in October, 2006, after 33 years of marriage.

Richard was a self-driven man his entire life. Richard had a strong sense of taking care of his family and he kept that promise by helping when he was needed with good advice. He was always supportive of his children and others. For example, he took homemade chicken soup to friends who were cancer patients as he was a thoughtful and kind person. He loved working and he worked right up until the end. He had a soft side and a huge heart. Richard and Dani raised money every year for Feed the Children. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Richard's name to Feed the Children www.feedthechildren.org.

Dick and Dobi have so many incredible memories that will carry them forward. Dick is thankful that the last time they were together they were able to have a really good talk and enjoyed their time. Dobi always knew she could call her father, no matter what, because he was devoted to his family. Richard will best be remembered as caring, loyal, witty, and with a smile on his face.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Dani Lin Swan. He is loved and remembered by Dobi; Dick and his wife, Perla; the grandchildren, Edmund, Cheyenne, Tristin and Savannah; brother, Jim, and his wife, Annella, many relatives; a host of friends, neighbors and the entire Cypress community.

A true Texan, Richard always said, "I want to go out with my boots on," and so he will. Richard was raised as a Baptist and he always believed in God and Heaven. The family believes he is at peace. His advice to everyone now would be to "Cowboy Up", and keep on riding no matter what.