James Richard "Dick" Piper

James R. "Dick" Piper, 88, of Big Spring, died on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at the VA Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at the Trinity Baptist Church with Dr. Randy Cotton, pastor, and Dr. Claude Craven, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Mr. Piper was born on Jan. 12, 1916, in Austin to James Claud and Myrtle Alma Piper. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in San Antonio on Nov. 7, 1940, and served until 1945. In the spring of 1946, he was working as a bouncer at the VFW Hall dance which was being held by his stepfather. It was there that he met Dorothy Frances Josey. They were married in Nov. 8, 1947. He worked at the fire department from 1949 to 1952 and went to work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office on June 5, 1952, and held that position until his retirement on Jan. 3, 1993. James and Dorothy had six children, five of which survive.

He was involved in the community, helping with community clean up and caring for his church's grounds. Many times he saw a weedy lot and would go get his equipment to take care of it. He helped with the building of the Kid Zone in the City Park.

James was always interested in sports and was involved in Little League activities for years. He managed Little League teams in the National League for 14 years. He had one of the first girl's and women's softball teams in town and helped in the Miss Softball America program for several years. He umpired for Little League, Teenage ball and both fast and slow pitch softball for 21 years. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church for almost 60 years.

Survivors include one son, Jim Piper of Sand Springs; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Lucy Piper, Jo Anna and Danny Bailey and Velma Henrietta and Paul Carson, all of Big Spring, and Jackie Piper of Austin; one sister, Mamie Lee Dodds of Big Spring; seven grandchildren, Amy Mauldin of Big Spring, Tanya Chappell of Lindsay, Okla., Jeff Carson of Big Spring, Jamie Piper of Snyder, Sean Bailey of Big Spring, Krista Bailey of Big Spring and Kelsey Piper of Austin and eight great grandchildren, with one more on the way. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, on Nov. 15, 1985; one daughter, Pamela Jo in 1955; his mother and father and his step-father, A. E. "Preach" True, two brothers, Doyce Piper and Brady Piper, and one sister, Claudiues Muriel Petherbridge.

Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com