Richard Hugh Isbell, 75, of Magnolia, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2019, with his wife, Pat, daughters Dianna and Kim, and his brother Dave by his side. Dick was born June 2, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, son of Harvey Winnell and Helen Dryer Isbell, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Jim and Bill, his step-father, Carl Mitzel, and a granddaughter, Hope Martin.

He spent his childhood years in Lakewood and Parma, Ohio, and graduated from Mayfield High School. He enlisted in the USAF where he served proudly for four years. He was in the 306th OMS stationed at McCoy AFB in Orlando, FL, with tours of duty in Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa. He served as crew chief on KC135 tankers on refueling missions over the China Sea.  After being honorably discharged Dick attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and earned his A&P license. He later earned his Inspector's License as well.

For the rest of his life he was involved in aircraft maintenance.  Some of the places he worked include Air Commuter Airlines and Wright Airlines in Cleveland, Northern Airlines and VIP Air Freight at Neil Armstrong Airport, and Apollo Aviation in Lima. In 1973 he became Director of Maintenance for Davis Airlines, College Station, TX.  In 1976 came a position with Tenneco Aviation Department and a move to Spring, TX.  Next came a job with Lockheed as a field service rep and a move to St. Louis in 1984, then a transfer to Allentown, PA in 1987.

In 1989 Dick and Pat and family moved back to Texas to start their own company, Aircraft Support Group, an FFA Repair Station, specializing in the Lockheed JetStar.  Dick knew this airplane like the back of his hand. If you owned a JetStar you knew Dick Isbell.  Dick and Pat gained not just customers, but many friends both in the states and abroad.

In 2008 Dick retired but the love of aviation did not. He spent his time rebuilding antique redial aircraft engines which he put on stands and trailers. He took great pleasure in displaying them at different events, explaining how the work, and cranking them up to the delight of the on-lookers. He had a 7 cylinder "Shaky Jake" and an 18 cylinder Wright Cyclone R3350-32WA – a 3750 HP engine.  He recently donated the engines to the Marine Aviation Museum in Houston, Texas, where aviation buffs can admire and students can learn.  In  2013 Dick received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award which recognizes lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics with 50 years of aviation maintenance.

Dick and Pat loved to travel especially in their RV.  They visited 48 states and Canada in it along with their black lab, BJ. They went to many Astro Spring Trainings and many trips to Branson Missouri, proudly standing when the shows recognized the veterans.  Dick loved the mountains and the desert of the West. He'd ride any steam train he could find.  Numerous trips abroad included Europe, Australia, Bora Bora (his favorite), Central America and the Caribbean.

Dick loves included classic cars and street rods.  He had so much fun attending cars in his '57 Chevy or his '34 Ford.  In his younger years you couldn't keep him off the dance floor and look out if they played "Duke of Earl".  It became his theme song.  Tricky Dick was his nickname.

Dick knew no stranger.  He talked to everyone.  Pat often said she was married to the friendliest guy on the planet.  In recent years he had daily rides around the neighborhood in his golf cart – sometimes with Pat, but always with his dog.  His other recent favorite activity was meeting the geezer gang at the local Whataburger for coffee. Oh, the stories they would tell.

Dick was a long time member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

Dick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Patricia, daughters Dianna (Derek) Morgan and Kimberly Martin.

Also surviving is his brother, David Isbell, grandchildren Grace, Grant and Greer Morgan; Gage and Gunnar Martin, nephews and a niece.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to Texas Children's Hospital – The Hope Martin Fund, Pets With a Mission, The Wounded Warrior Fund or  The Woodlands United Methodist Church Missions Fund.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 18, 2019,  at 12:30 pm at The Woodlands United Methodist Church (The Harvest) 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, Texas.  Funeral Service immediately following at 2:00 PM followed by a procession to the final resting place at Klein Memorial Park 14711 FM1488 , Magnolia TX.  After which friends and family are invited back to the Isbell home to remember and celebrate the life of Dick.  Classic car owners and street rodders are encouraged to drive their cars.

Service Schedule