Richard Spradlin

Richard Spradlin, 84, of Navasota, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in St. Luke’s Health – The Vintage, in Houston. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Nobles Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at Nobles Funeral Chapel with Rev. Toy Leach officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Oakland Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Richard was born on July 18, 1940, the only child to his parents, Blueford Daniel Spradlin and Mary Katherine Harmon Spradlin, in Wichita, Kansas. He was a devoted husband for 41 years, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. To know him was to love him, as a young adult he took over his father's auto parts business, Spradlin Auto Supply in 1966 and later sold the business in 1973. In 1970 he ventured into real estate building his first warehouse and continued until his passing. In 1975 he built and began B D Auto Salvage and successfully ran it until his retirement in 1985. Richard was an avid weight lifter beginning in his teens until his late 60’s, he enjoyed hot-riding, motorcycles, and racing anything he could drive. At the ages of 18-21 he could bench press 500lbs, could tear a Houston phone book to 1/8 or 1/16, also he even could do pull-ups by only using his fingertips and could tear 3 decks of cards in half at one time. He was a strong man and in his daughter's eyes her “Hero”. Another interesting fact, Richard received his pilot license in 1968, he was also known for flying under the Galveston Causeway. What a ride that would have been! Richard was passionate about his country, antiques, westerns, guns, country music, taking care of his properties, longhorns and history. In his spare time he enjoyed playing poker with his buddies, telling some good ol’ stories and loving on his animals. Richard never could pass up a stray animal, he loved all of them even the ones that were not so kind. He believed in working hard, being charitable, giving back to his community, and providing for his wife Mary, daughter Karrie, and late stepson Curtis. 

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Blueford (B.D.) and Katherine (Kitty), his stepson Curtis Glenn, and right-hand man Ted Henderson.

Survivors include his wife Mary Kay Spradlin; his daughter and husband, Karrie Spradlin Cooper and son-in-law, Bryan Cooper; his grandchildren, Justin Cooper, Eric Cooper, Taylor Cooper, and Jake Cooper; his great-grandchildren Mason Willis and a blessing on the way (Blakely); and a host of other close family and friends. 

Honoring Richard’s life as Pallbearers are his family members Bryan Cooper, Justin Cooper, Eric Cooper, Jake Cooper, Carl Darnell, and Butterball Darnell; serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Danny Stoneburner, Arthur Salinas, Gary Brandt, “Bugaboo” Mason Willis, Neal Gray, the late “Bubbu” Curtis Glenn and the late Ted Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, donations and contributions for “Richard’s Spradlin Memorial Fund FOM” can be mailed to Citizens State Bank, P.O. Box 908, Navasota, Texas, (936) 825-6994.

Family is requesting those in attendance to wear the color red or black.