Richard Chavez

RICHARD CHAVEZ
PHARR - Surrounded by family, Richard left us to join his daughter, Erica Renee, in ultimate paradise on Monday, April 10th.
He is preceded in death by his beautiful daughter, Erica Renee Chavez; his parents, Pedro and Petra (De La Garza) Chavez of Edinburg; and his in-laws, Refugio and Alicia (Gonzales) Cuellar of Pharr.
He is survived by his wife, Linda (Cuellar) Chavez; his daughter, Dina Denise Chavez; his grandson, Christian Richard Chavez, all of Pharr; his brother, Daniel (Gloria) Chavez of Edinburg; sisters, Maria Elena Chavez of Edinburg and Velia Chavez of San Antonio; and 17 nieces and nephews.
Richard grew up in Edinburg, TX, the oldest of four. He was an altar server for most of his adolescent years and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Edinburg. Richard was an Edinburg Bobcat, where he played football, baseball, and ran track, graduating in 1966. He Attended Pan American University for two years where he was a brother of Phi Kappa Theta. He transferred to The University of Texas at Austin where he graduated from Pharmacy School in 1971. Upon graduation, Richard returned to his roots to serve his community as a pharmacist at BL Garza Pharmacy in Edinburg. He loved studying pharmacy and being a Pharmacist and also worked and was co-owner at Donna Drug Co, and Medico. He then became a Pharmaceutical Rep for Merck Sharp & Dohme. Richard returned to pharmacy at Walgreens, and later at HEB. As a Consultant Pharmacist, Richard worked for American Pharmaceutical, Buddy De La Rosa Pharmacy and Omnicare, a branch of CVS, where he dedicated 23 years of service. Richard was honored for serving 50 years as a Pharmacist.
He met the love of his life, Linda, in 1965 when he was 17 and she was 15. They married in 1972, welcoming their first daughter in 1975 and their youngest daughter in 1979. Always the loving husband and father, Richard devoted his life to his family, friends and his faith. He loved reading, especially the Bible, medical and pharmaceutical journals and magazines. Richard was very active in his younger years, a runner, loved playing golf, softball, and working in his garden. His pride and joy was his backyard where you could find him listening to the Blues and either barbecuing or drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper. Richard loved playing chess, especially with his daughter and grandson. He had a passion for photography and watching the New York Yankees and Texas Longhorns football. Richard was a presence everyone felt as soon as he walked into the room, always laughing, and joking. He loved talking to and meeting people, and serving his community. Richard was a member of the Texas Pharmaceutical Association, Rio Grande Valley Pharmaceutical Association, the Lions Club of Donna, the Rio Grande Valley Pharmaceutical Travelers Association, and was a board member of the Hidalgo County Health Clinic.
The Chavez Family would like to thank the Pallbearers: Rey Chavez, Ivan Cuellar, Richard Cuellar, Romeo Cuellar, Romeo R. Cuellar, Arturo Gonzalez, Rene Guerra; and the Honorary Pallbearers: Daniel Chavez, Rene Cuellar, Jesse De Leon, Javier Garza, George X. Guerra, Richard Martinez, Ramon Ortega Medrano, Carlos Vasquez, and Ernesto Vasquez.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 6 p.m. rosary Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 17, 2023, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Pharr. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.