Richard (Rich) Earl Bull was born December 24, 1944, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Joyce Byron and Reba Estelee (Basham)Bull. He joined older brother and sister James and Carolyn followed by baby sister Elizabeth.
At the early age of seventeen, he joined the U.S. Army and served one tour in Vietnam. He met his future wife, Jane, while stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado. The two were married in 1965, two days after his enlistment was up.
Rich was able to pursue his dream career of being a telephone man. They lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado until 1985. He earned his Order of the Mushroom working inside “the mountain” (NORAD) for the Bell system. During divestiture of the Bell system, he joked he worked for seven companies never leaving his job in NORAD.
While in Colorado, Rich and Jane welcomed three children, Ron in 1968, Heather in 1971, and Tommy during a blizzard in 1977. While in Colorado Rich enjoyed ice fishing, fly fishing, hunting, camping, and motorcycle riding.
After moving to Texas, he found saltwater fishing and rediscovered warm water fishing. He always had a garden wherever he lived growing many crops of tomatoes and okra, etc. After working for NORAD for 18 years, Rich took a job as a Premise Service Consultant with AT&T in EL Paso, Texas. A year and a half later, he transferred to Dallas in an engineering center. He took early retirement from AT&T in 1989 but hired back as a consultant before he began a second career at SMU in 1991 as a Design Engineer.
He was a proud member of BICSI, having earned his RCDD. Rich and Jane were blessed with their fourth child, “bonus baby,” Jonathan in 1993.
Rich retired from SMU in 2013.
He was a dedicated follower of the Lord beginning in 1974 having committed to the Jesus he was taught about as a child and served as a deacon in Central Christian Church in Colorado Springs and later as an elder at Central Christian Church in Richardson, Texas. At the time of his death, he was Ministry leader of Christian Care.
He is survived by his loving wife Jane Bull, loving children son Ron and daughter-in-love, Nichole and their children, Benjamin, Laura (Geldean) and her husband, Corey, Miriam, Titus and Elias, daughter, Heather and son-in-love, Russ and their children, Ryan, Allison (Nelson) and husband Brett, Katie and Thomas, son Tommy and daughter-in-love, Grace and their children, Eva, Rebekah, Resalea, and Josiah, and son Jonathan and daughter-in-love, Kelly and their children, Noah and Lucas; siblings older brother, Jim and wife Karen, his sisters Carolyn Bean and husband, Jimmy, Elizabeth Lyons and husband Gary, brother and sister in-law, Gary and Liane Shupp and very first great grandchild, Lance Geldean as well as many nieces, nephews and beloved friends. Rich was preceded in death by his mom and dad, J. B. and Estelee, his other “parents,” Marge and Loren Shupp and his precious tiny grandson, Jesse Andrew, son of Tommy and Grace.
The family will receive friends for a visitation Friday, August 5, 2022, from 4-5:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options followed by a funeral service to celebrate Rich’s life at 5:00 p.m. If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/76836
A reception will be held at the family’s church, Central Christian Church, 1651 E. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas, following the service. Everyone is invited to attend.
If desired donations may be made in Rich’s name to Central Christian Church designating Christian Care, 1651 East Campbell, Richardson, Texas 75081 or online at https://www.centralrichardson.com/give
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Published by Allen Family Funeral Options – Plano on Aug. 3, 2022.
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