Richard Dale Trotter

Richard Dale Trotter, age 84, of Walnut Springs, passed away on January 24, 2022, in Waco surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, January 30, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Glen Rose, Texas. Pastor TJ Joyner officiated. Visitation was held at the church from 1:30 p.m. until service time.

Richard Dale Trotter was born on June 12, 1937, near Iredell, to Wilburn Clarence and Dorris Mae Srader Trotter. He was delivered by Dr. Albert Pike. Richard attended school in Iredell and Walnut Springs. He graduated in 1957. Richard played on the first six-man football team and scored 300 points in one season. He, two of his sons and three of his grandsons all wore No. 11 during a span of over sixty years. He really loved watching his sons and grandsons play high school basketball and football. He missed very few games.

Since the age of 14, he was never scared after he became a born-again Christian. Richard was called from the National Guard into active duty to the Army in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. He became an ordained Baptist preacher, had pastored four different churches, performed numerous marriage ceremonies and funerals, witnessed to others and helped many people who were hungry and/or down on their luck until the day he passed away. Richard loved being a musician. He was performing in public by playing the mandolin at age five. Richard became known for his outstanding guitarist abilities, but also he played piano, fiddle, bass, etc. His sister got sponsors and they had a show when television was in its infancy. Unfortunately, she passed on at a young age. Richard instilled the Trotter Family "love of music" into his sons and grandsons by teaching them to play musical instruments. Richard and Peggy Holliday Trotter were married on June 8, 1957, in Walnut Springs Baptist Church. They would have been married 65 years in 2022. They were parents to Richard Glenn "Ricki," Victor Dale and Timothy Lyn Trotter. Their family has grown to 28, including in-laws and grandchildren. They were/are both proud of their beautiful family. Richard and Peggy lived in Meridian, Fort Worth, Midland, Hurst and Walnut Springs. He became a Responsible Master Plumber and had a utility construction and dirt-work company since 1967. Many people only knew of the small jobs Richard did in the Walnut Springs area. When Richard was younger, he did huge, bonded utility jobs in large cities, such as Fort Worth, Arlington, Waco, San Antonio, Gainesville and numerous other large and smaller cities. Years ago, his company replaced probably half the sewer and water lines in Glen Rose. Richard never retired, as he loved to work. Some of the best years of his life were when his sons went to work with him. They worked hard and played hard. 

Richard is survived by his wife, Peggy Trotter; sons, Richard "Ricki" Glenn Trotter and wife, Charm, Victor Dale Trotter and wife, Andrea, Timothy Lyn Trotter and wife, Alicia; grandchildren, Ben Trotter and wife, Ariel, Zane Trotter, Trenton Trotter and wife, Megan, Olivia Terrell, Derek Terrell, Vance Trotter, Seth Trotter, Jake Trotter, Asher Trotter, Brittany Thurman and husband, Ricky; great-grandchildren, Madison and August Thurman and Kylie Rush.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings. They were Clarence, John, Bill "Junior," Malcom, Rosie Mae (Thompson), Marlon "Bert" and Joe.

He leaves behind a host of dear friends, loved ones and other relatives who will miss him forever. Richard never looked down on anyone and encouraged everyone to do better. 

Arrangements were entrusted to Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.