Obituary for Richard Allen (Dick) Metcalf

Richard Allen Metcalf was delivered into the world December 30, 1953 in Tomball, Texas by his future father-in-law, Dr. Norman Graham, to the late June Carroll (McRae) and Roy Clinton Metcalf, Jr. Dick transferred residence from another hospital in Tomball to his eternal home in Heaven on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

As he entered first grade, Dick's family moved to Jersey Village, Texas when Roy became principal of Post Elementary. As his parents moved up in their Cypress-Fairbanks School District educational careers, Dick gained friends and recognition as a member of the Cy-Fair band and industrial arts programs. He graduated from Cy-Fair High in 1972 and went to work as a draftsman for Gifford Hill Pipe. Soon after taking his first courses at the University of Houston, Dick stepped into what would be his lifelong career in design and consultation in the oil and gas industry with Cameron Iron Works, Cooper Cameron, and British Petroleum. He was an early expert user of CAD software design. He did important work with Cameron's development of offshore blow-out preventers, and with diagnosing the cause of the failed O-rings during the first shuttle disaster.

Dick married Kay Graham of Tomball on February 14, 1980. Their children remember that he always called her Darlin'. While Dick traveled around the world as a consultant to offshore drillers, his time at home was characterized by family involvement in softball, hunting, fishing, and quarter horse racing. Dick was a lifelong Baptist, but during his time as an owner of racing quarter horses, he and Kay threw their attendance and support to the Cowboy Church at Sam Houston Racetrack. When Dick retired in 2016, he and Kay moved to their "Creek House" at Sargent, Texas. He loved fishing with his family and friends, and enjoyed live music, spending time with his grandchildren, making his homemade strawberry ice cream, and telling long stories. From his youth, Dick loved to draw and paint. His landscape paintings are treasured by friends and family members fortunate enough to have one.

In recent years, the Metcalfs returned to Montgomery, Texas, where he did not fully have a chance to enjoy the home they had picked out due to frequent declines in his health after a series of strokes and risky surgical procedures.

Survivors include wife Kay, daughter Kandice "Kandi" Cabets and husband Glenn Cabets of Montgomery, grandchildren Kyle Driver and Wyatt Cabets, daughter Kourtney and husband Brandon Ray serving in the U.S. Navy in Japan, grandchildren Joe and Noah Ray, and son Kendall Metcalf and grandchildren Rylee and Paisley Metcalf, and Kenny's fiancé Kim Lundy and children Ashlynn and Brooklynn Lundy. Brother Bob and wife Barbara Metcalf of Owensboro, Kentucky, sister Carol Metcalf Whatley of Jersey Village, Texas, and brother Ron and wife Cathy of Jersey Village, Texas, and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Randy Metcalf, and brother-in-law David Whatley.

Arrangements are being handled by the Klein Funeral Home in Tomball. There will be a visitation at 1 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Klein Funeral Home, 1400 W. Main, Tomball, Texas 77375. Dick's brother, Rev. Bob Metcalf will preside. Interment will follow at Klein Memorial Park-Tomball, 32539 SH 249, Pinehurst, Texas.