Richard Earl Collier, 81, of Wildwood passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at Harbor Hospice.  Richard was born in Beaumont, Texas, the only child of Earl H. and Margie Collier.  He was preceded in death by his parents and, in December 2009, by his wife of fifty-nine years, Mary Lou Seymour Collier.

A graduate of Beaumont High School, Richard served in the Naval Reserves and worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company until his retirement.  For many years, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he sang in the church choir.  When he and Mary Lou built a home and moved to Wildwood Resort, they joined Wildwood Baptist Church.

Richard’s hobbies were many and varied.  At an early age, he built and flew model airplanes, setting a world speed record and garnering the esteemed Captain Eddie Rickenbacker trophy.  Boating and skiing were favorite activities, and he became a champion competitive water skier. Motorcycling, go carting, and drag racing were also pastimes.  He set a world record in drag racing.  He loved to work on these vehicles, and at one time owned Dick’s Speed Shop.  When the Colliers moved to Wildwood, they located their home on a runway and built a hangar so Richard could build an airplane from a kit, which he succeeded in building and flying.  In later years, traveling with RV clubs took them cross country to many locations while woodworking and gardening became his at-home interests.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday May 14, 2010 at Broussard’s, 530 W. Monroe, Kountze with Reverend Richard Cowart officiating.  Burial will follow at Village Mills Cemetery in Village Mills.  A gathering of family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. until time of service.