Richard Earl Harbuck

Richard Earl Harbuck was born on December 23, 1945 in Dallas, Texas to Claude and Mary Alice Mackey Harbuck, and passed from this life on October 26th at his home in Pine Mills, Wood County, Texas at the age of 77.  Richard struggled with pancreatic cancer since October of 2022.  

Mr. Harbuck was preceded in death by: his parents; infant brother, Claude Wayne Harbuck; mother-in-law, Estell Mansell; sister-in-law, Theresa Harbuck; brother-in-law, Doyle Nelson;  nephew-in-law, Mike Zachary.  Richard is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Nancy Gail Mansell Harbuck; daughter and son-in-law, Torri and Mike Miller of Leesburg, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Lindsey Harbuck of Mineola, Texas; grandchildren Tant Miller and wife Brielle of Pine Mills, Texas; Caleb Miller of Leesburg, Texas; Chloe Harbuck and Liam Harbuck, both of Mineola, Texas.

Richard and Nancy were high school sweethearts and graduated from Quitman High School in 1963 and 1965, respectively.   They married in Quitman, Texas on Richard's birthday, December 23, 1965.  The following March, Richard was drafted into the Unites States Army, went to Boot Camp in Fort Polk, Louisiana, served the rest of his eighteen-month military term in Germany, and then was honorably discharged from service.  His work took him to LTV in Greenville as a Field and Service Mechanic, Lawrence Butane in Quitman, and then Richard found the field that would become a fifty-two-year career for him - the water and wastewater industry.  He began with the City of Quitman as a wastewater treatment plant operator, moved to Water Superintendent for the City of Mineola for 20 years, while simultaneously being an instructor for the Texas Engineering Extension Service.  In 1995, Richard retired from the City of Mineola, and went into full-time teaching for TEEX - Water & Wastewater Training Division.  In 1999, he became the program manager for that division, and retired in 2011.  Richard and Nancy moved back to the farm in Pine Mills, and he became a consultant for Ramey Water Supply Corporation for six years, working until his health would not allow.

Following retirement, Richard and Nancy purchased a Honda Goldwing Touring bike and traveled the country, visiting 28 states and riding over 44,000 miles - to see many beautiful state and national parks.  After the motorcycle chapter of their life, they transitioned to traveling with the RV, staying in many parks in beautiful Texas and Arkansas.

In the summer of 2023, Richard was nominated by friends to receive the honor of Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy and was awarded this distinction by the Governor of the State of Texas. Richard was a member of the North Loop church of Christ in Mineola, Texas.

Funeral service for Richard Harbuck will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Lowe-Gardner Funerals & Cremations. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to service time, starting at 2:00 PM.  

Serving as pallbearers are Liam Harbuck, Tant Miller, Caleb Miller, Tom Harbuck, Jack Swanson, and Chad Wright.

Honorary pallbearers are Gloria Ragsdale, Joe Daniels, Mike Short, Ronnie Bradley, John Underwood, and Mickey Hooks.