Richard Eugene Round

"How to hit home runs: I swing as hard as I can, and I try to swing right through the ball… The harder you grip the bat, the more you can swing it through the ball, and the farther the ball will go. I swing big, with everything I've got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can."- Babe Ruth. This is exactly how Richard Eugene Round lived his life. He always swung for the fences with a "Go Big or Go Home!" attitude. He worked hard at everything he put his mind to and swung for the fences. Born in Dallas TX on February 6, 1949, to John D and Thelma Bernice "Johnson" Round, Richard and his twin brother Robert were born the best of friends. Although Richard would jokingly refer to Robert as the "afterbirth", the two of them were inseparable. They were two of six boys with one very, tough sister thrown in the mix. Growing up with a large family, the boys would often go outside to play and grew fond of sports. Like his older brother before him, Richard grew particularly fond of baseball. At a very early age, he began playing ball. Like the Babe Ruth quote, he always swung for the fences. In 1966, his junior year of High School at South Oak Cliff, Richard made the All-City of Dallas Baseball Team as the left fielder with the leading batting average of .430. In '67, his Senior Year, Richard was All-City of Dallas Honorable Mention Outfielder. He would continue his baseball career at Grayson County College where he won the All- Texas Eastern Conference batting title with a .421 average and was named an outfielder on the TEC All Conference Team. While at Grayson, he was a staff writer for the Grayson County College Graphic and was studying architecture. It was in '68 when Richard's History Teacher noticed him eyeing a beautiful brunette from his hometown, named Brenda Joyce Jones. The teacher told him she came from good stock. They started dated in March of '68 and were married the following August 31st. Early in their marriage, Richard managed a Pizza Inn. He always spoke about how they would load pizzas with jalapenos for Brenda's grandparents, who called it pizz'um. From there, his father in love, helped him get a job with the phone company in Whitewright, TX. This was the catalyst for close to a 40 year career with the phone company. He worked with Southwestern Bell, Contel, GTE, Verizon, and MCI over those years. His career took their family on an adventurous journey from TX to GA and back. The position he was most proud of was the title of Manager of National Emergency Preparedness. Richard would travel to multiple destinations to resolve union strikes, help reestablish communications after natural disasters, met with Government Officials regarding National Security Measures, and helped rebuild the telecommunications infrastructure after 9-11. He had a contingency plan for everything he did. He always spoke fondly of his years spent with the phone company and the many wonderful teammates he met along the way. Over their 54 year marriage, Richard and Brenda built a beautiful life together. They had three daughters and "sons", nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and countless "bonus" kids from the teams they coached. He was the ultimate girl Dad. From clippies in the hair to teaching his girls how to throw a well-placed bow, Richard loved his girls and told everyone how proud he was of them. He always said he would pin them against any guy in sports and knew his girls would dominate. His and Brenda's love was eternal. After the sudden loss of Brenda in December of '22, Richard would tell his girls that he needed to go home. When they would tell him he was home, he would always respond with "I have not been home since your Mom passed." God called him home on August 10, 2023. He is now reunited with his bride, just in time for her Birthday and their 55th Wedding Anniversary. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Joyce Jones Round; his parents, John D and Thelma Round; his father-in-law, Robert Louis Jones; siblings, Robert & Dianne Round, Charles & Martha Round, Von & Evelyn Edwards, Perry Round, and Tim LeMay. He is survived by his mother-in-law Thelma Jones (Tom Bean, TX), Daughters and Sons- Jennifer & Thad Dingler (Allen, TX), Stephanie & Jay Jones (McKinney, TX), and Christy & Ryan Campise (Aurora, CO), Rachel & Jason Branham(Tyler, TX), and Jill Round & Erin Gayden(Richardson, TX). Grandchildren- Jake & Marisa Dingler, Thomas Dingler, Toby Dingler, Trinity Jones, Jagger Jones, Cadence Campise, Ainsley Campise, and Tyson Campise. Great Grandchildren- Maggie and Jim Dingler. Siblings- Steve & Rhonda Round, Glen & Susan Round, Louise & Jackie Walker, Michael & Lynsey Jones, Bobby & Barbara Monk, and Dolly LeMay. Countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Scottish Rite, The American Heart Association, or American Cancer Society. Yogi Berra said, "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." Please help us honor Richard's love of baseball by wearing your favorite MLB or college baseball jersey/T-Shirt. Please dress comfortably due to the weather.