(April 20, 1933 – July 22, 2024)
U.S. Veteran
On July 22, 2024, at 2:20 PM, The Lord called Vestal Lee Richey Home to Heaven.
Vestal Lee Richey was born on April 20, 1933, to Nim Rod and Hattie Baugh Bolton Richey in Dublin, Texas. Vestal was one of eleven children, 3 full brothers and 7 half brothers and sisters. His father, Nim Rod passed away in 1940 when Vestal was 6 years old. He and his siblings worked to support the household. Vestal attended Dublin schools and during his high school years, he worked full time at the sewing factory in Dublin at night and on weekends, and during his senior year in high school he also drove a school bus for the school district. He even drove a bus to New Orleans for the 1952 senior trip.
Vestal met Carol June Gee while they were going to school, and they were married on September 25, 1953, in Dublin. Vestal and Carol moved from Dublin to Abilene, Tx in 1954, and Vestal was drafted into the Army in 1955, and served at various locations for two years until his discharge in 1957. He then served in the National Guard from 1957 until 1958 when he was working for the Post Office. Vestal and Carol had three sons, Travis, Darrel and Stephen. After returning to Abilene from the Army, Vestal worked at the Post Office in Abilene, starting as a letter carrier and then various management positions. During his career with the Post Office, he attended college, and received a certificate of completion from Draughn’s Business College, and an Associates of Applied Science degree from Cisco Junior College. He retired from the Post Office in 1988. He and Carol attended several different churches when they returned to Abilene, serving on church boards and singing in choirs and then settled into the First Church of the Nazarene in Abilene from 1960 until Carol’s death in 2017. During this time, they served in various aspects of church ministry, as when each served as Sunday School teachers, and in later years were very active in leading the senior adults in various activities. They also sang at many funerals over the years. Vestal was also involved in the Abilene Kiwanis Club. Vestal married Patricia Bigham of Abilene after Carol’s death, which added another beautiful chapter to his life.
Vestal was preceded in death by both of his parents, and all of his siblings. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Bigham, and his three sons: Travis & Yvette Richey of Granbury, Tx; Darrel Richey and Dan of Desert Hot Springs, Ca; Stephen and Sheryl Richey of Abilene, TX. Also, 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, 4 great-grandsons and 3 great-granddaughters, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Saturday, Aug. 3rd from 10am until Noon at Harrell Funeral Home in Dublin, TX. Funeral service will be Saturday, Aug. 3rd at 2:00 PM at Harrell Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Barbee Cemetery, south of Dublin.
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