Obituary of Richard Hall Carroll

Richard Hall Carroll Sr. passed away peacefully on November 13, 2018.Richard was born May 13, 1926 in Huntington, Texas, to Sally and Hall Carroll. He went to school in Huntington and Freeport, Texas. He was raised on his grandpa’s farm, picked cotton as a child, and worked in restaurants as a teenager in Freeport.As a member of the Greatest Generation, Richard proudly served his country in WW II and was very patriotic all his life. He joined the Navy at 17 years old, went to General Motors Diesel School in Gulfport, Mississippi, and served on the Destroyer Escort USS Burrows (DE-105) in the North Atlantic, sailing from Brooklyn NY to Liverpool, England and back every six weeks.After the military, Richard returned to Huntington and owned a Humble Oil service station at age 20. He married Vanita Gee and had three children, Jeannie, Richard Jr., (Ricky) and Bruce. Richard joined the Pipe Fitters Union and worked construction mostly in the north and northeast. He moved to Fort Worth in 1956 and worked for Welding Specialties, eventually buying the company.Richard was a Master Mason in the Crowley Masonic Lodge and has received his 60 year pin.Richard has been a Moslah Shriner in the Clown Unit for many years and a member of the Royal Order of Jester Fort Worth Court #32. He always said it was a privilege to be a Moslah Shriner and enjoyed many fulfilling years as a Moslah Clown. He was Moslah Clown of the Year in 1975, president of the Clown Unit in 1979, and Moslah Clown Unsung Hero in 1998.After losing his first wife, Vanita, Richard married Dotti Girardi Carroll. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth.Richard is best known for his integrity, generosity and good character. He was a very kind, compassionate, positive and fun-loving. He loved music and dancing and traveling, especially on cruises. Richard’s nieces, nephews, cousins and friends were all very special to him. He enjoyed their visits and phone calls.He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Vanita Carroll, son in law, Tommy Wright, his parents, four brothers and three sisters.Special thanks to go VITAS Hospice and Comfort Keepers, especially Celia Garcia.Survivors: He leaves his wife, Dotti; daughter, Jeanne, sons, Richard (Brenda) and Bruce (Mary); 9 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and many friends.