Obituary of Richard A. Marmaduke
Richard Marmaduke loved his family, dogs, the beach, vintage weapons, film scores, and the Italian cream cake from Costco. After battling a host of medical issues in recent years, he passed away late in the evening of Sept. 24 at Memorial Hermann Memorial City hospital. He was 75.
Son of a geologist and real-estate broker, Marmaduke was born Oct. 27, 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His family moved around the region before settling in Houston in time for Marmaduke, known to friends and family as Rick or Ricky, to attend Lanier Middle School. He was a champion swimmer and decorated artist at Lamar High School, from which he graduated in 1965.
After enrolling at Colorado State University, in the fall of 1966 Marmaduke joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. The next year he was called up to active duty to serve aboard the USS Sea Robin, a Balao-class submarine stationed at New London, Conn. During his 18 months at sea, his jobs included fireman; topside/lookout watchstander; loading and recovery of torpedoes; oiler/manifold operator; and engine room maintenance/repair. He earned a National Defense Service Medal, while one commanding officer’s evaluation noted Marmaduke was “very popular with his shipmates.”
Following an honorable discharge from active duty in April 1969, Marmaduke returned to the navy’s inactive reserve for the remainder of his military service, finishing in 1972. He enrolled in the University of St. Thomas in Houston and University of Texas at Austin, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1974. His full-time entry into the workforce came through the Hyatt Regency Houston managerial-training program, where he rose to the position of hotel parking-garage manager.
The cordial and outgoing Marmaduke’s decades-long career in Houston’s outdoor-advertising (i.e. billboard) industry began in September 1975, when began working for Foster & Kleiser, one of the nation’s largest firms at the time. He was eventually promoted to the positions of real-estate manager and, in 1980, account executive. He went on to work for several other leading companies in that field including Patrick Media Group, Gannett Outdoor, Interstate Advertising, SignTex Imaging, and Eller Media.
On August 3, 1974, her birthday, Marmaduke married the former Linda Otto at the Church of St. John the Divine on River Oaks Boulevard. Throughout his entire life he would refer to her as the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She survives him, as do his children, Lauren and Matthew Marmaduke; brother William Marmaduke and sister Anne Fletcher; nieces Sarah Romero and Leigh Jones; nephews Bill and Richard Marmaduke; daughter-in-law Gabrielle Marmaduke; son-in-law Chris Gray; and grandchildren Luke Marmaduke, Ethan Marmaduke, and Oliver Gray.
Marmaduke was resilient, and a little lucky; while in high school, he once reportedly wrecked three different cars in one day. A dedicated jogger who enjoyed running the trails around Buffalo Bayou, he entered several fun runs during the 1980s; as well as coaching his children’s roller-hockey and little-league teams. He helped organize family vacations to Cancun, Cozumel, Colorado, Disney World, and other far-flung destinations; and relished his many trips to Las Vegas.
A history enthusiast and proud member of the San Jacinto Arms Collectors Association, Marmaduke accrued an extensive collection of military memorabilia. But he was also a music lover whose exceptionally broad tastes ranged from Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles to the Four Tops and the 13th Floor Elevators to a litany of popular movie soundtracks and Broadway musicals. He once painted a replica of Cat Stevens’ “Tea for the Tillerman” album cover on the family refrigerator.
Marmaduke had similarly eclectic taste in movies, especially sci-fi, Westerns — the films of John Wayne most of all — and scary movies, a love of which he shared with his daughter. He also loved working in his backyard, where he could keep an eye on the succession of canine companions he doted on — Molly, Mikey, Louie, Weena, Lola, Khaleesi, Wolfie, and finally Freya. It is of great comfort to his family that perhaps now he is reunited with them at last, but those he left behind already miss him dearly.
A memorial service for Marmaduke is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, October 6 at Covenant Baptist Church, 4949 Caroline St. in Houston’s Museum District.