Richard Pullen

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 5:00 P.M. Monday, October 3, 2016, at Taylor's Chapel Cemetery. MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the 24 Hour Club, a nonprofit facility providing safe, sober transitional living for homeless men and women. (dallas24hourclub.org) Richard Dale Pullen (“Rick P.”) born September 13th, 1946 in Independence, Missouri passed away peacefully in North Dallas on Monday October 3, 2016 after a courageous battle with lymphatic cancer. Rick was preceded in death by his mother Dulcie Miller Pullen, father Claude Robert Pullen and brother Ed Pullen. He is survived by his sister and brother in-law Sande & Donnie Auvenshine of Comanche Texas; nephew and nieces: Justin & Ebonie Auvenshine, their daughter Lakyn; Donnita & Chad Robinson, their children Audrey, Emily, Haden and Pierson; Katie & Odas Hays, their children Allison & Macy; Tammy & Tony Leyva, their son James Patrick; Kymberlea & Craig Davis and their son John Patrick; Melissa & Jason Underwood, their children Keyauna, Mollie and Xavier; and scores of close friends. Rick spent his childhood in Odessa, Texas and later joined the United States Army and served his active duty in Wiesbaden, Germany. A longtime resident of Richardson Texas, Rick’s work endeavors included a successful career in mortgage banking and the publishing industry. An avid tennis player, Rick could be found on the court even on the hottest or coldest of Texas days. He enjoyed sharing his talents as an athlete by teaching others to play competitive tennis. A sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous since June 10, 1973, Rick devoted his adult life to carrying the message of recovery from alcoholism and addiction to countless people, as well as donating thousands of community service hours to Parkland Hospital. Rick always made time to answer the constant stream of calls to his phone and share his experience with those in need. He had a way of distilling his message of “experience, strength and hope” into entertaining stories and memorable saying. His wit and wisdom will be especially missed by his AA friends and all those that knew him. “God grant us the Serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the Courage to change the things we can and the Wisdom to know the difference.”