Born: October 11, 1936 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Died: November 17, 2013 Crawford, McLennan County, Texas

Son of George Bain and Dorothy Ester Rinne Wales

Parents:
George B Wales (1909 – 1990)
Dorothy Ester Rinne Wales (1917 – 1945)

Spouse:
Ollie Lee Wells Wales (1931 – 2017)

Richard W. “Dick” Wales, 77, of Crawford, passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2013, at his residence. A memorial graveside service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, November 21, at China Spring Cemetery. A celebration of Dick’s life will be led by Billy Martin.

Dick was born October 11, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. Dick graduated from Waco High School. The family business, Wales Industrial Service, began in 1950. After 55 years of service to the company, he retired in 2005 as its president. He served with the Woodway Public Safety Department and later as a Reserve Deputy with the McLennan County Sheriff’s office. He was an avid airplane and helicopter pilot. At Christmas he enjoyed helping “Goodfellas” and others fly Santa to make special deliveries to some area families. He was a member of Partners, AGC, EAA Chapter 59, and many other organizations. He was a kind, generous and giving man and was always willing to lend a hand.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George B. and Marion Carter Wales. He was born to George Bain and Dorothy Ester Rinne Wales. Dorothy died in 1945 in New Mexico.

Survivors include his wife, Ollie Wells Wales of Crawford; son, Chuck Wales of Durango, Colorado; daughters, Cookie Sorrentino and husband, Tony, of China Spring, Linda Hail and husband, Mike, of Hewitt, and Judy Pavelka of Crawford; grandchildren, Jennifer Davis, Bryan Davis, Amy Hail and Kevin Hail; two great-grandchildren, Reece and Camryn; and brother, Bob Wales and wife, Barbara, of Hawaii.