Richard “Dick” Dorman Phelps—“Dicky” to those who knew him as a little boy—passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 25, 2026 after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Dick was born and raised in Laredo, Texas as the only child of Kate and Dorman Phelps. He had an extraordinarily close relationship with his mother and was deeply proud of her accomplishments as the highest-ranking civilian working at Fort McIntosh. That admiration stayed with him throughout his life, and he never missed an opportunity to share that with his children.

Dick cherished his childhood growing up on Fort McIntosh where he learned to speak Spanish fluently and developed his love of the outdoors, swimming, Mexican food, patios, and margaritas. He graduated from Martin High School in 1957 and left South Texas to attend Texas Tech University where he was a member of the men’s swim team, excelling at the butterfly, and joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Dick loved his Red Raiders and the lifelong friendships that he made there.

After college, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Washington D.C. He served for 4 years before being honorably discharged from the Army as a First Lieutenant. Thereafter, Dick returned to Texas and began his 30+ year career working for Southwestern Bell. He eventually moved to Dallas with daughters Brooke, Courtney, and Devon and got set up on a blind date with the love of his life, Steven Jill Scott. Dick and Steven got married on May 12, 1973 and added two more children to their brood—Paige and Craig.

Dick and Steven settled in Lake Highlands where they built their dream home and raised their blended family. Dick loved spending time with his children—coaching their soccer, baseball, and basketball teams, serving as a Scout Master, taking them on road trips to Colorado with mandatory stops in Palo Duro Canyon to watch the outdoor musical play “Texas!” and in New Mexico to hike Capulin Volcano National Monument. Dick was a MacGyver of sorts who outfitted his beloved Suburban with rabbit ears so that his kids could watch shows on a portable TV during their long road trips.

Dick was an avid tennis player who spent many weekends at Dallas Athletic Club practicing and playing in tournaments. He was rarely seen on the court without his trademark sweatband around his head and sweat cuffs on his wrists. He was also deeply involved in the Lake Highlands community, particularly through the Lake Highlands Soccer Association where he served as President and spent countless hours mowing the fields at Moss Park, putting up soccer nets, and raising money for improvements to the soccer fields. Faith was extremely important to Dick—he was a member of St. James Episcopal Church for 24 years where he served on various committees and regularly volunteered his time.

But for all of Dick’s accomplishments, the things he valued most in life were much simpler—his family and friends. He believed in being kind to others, helping those in need, working hard, never giving up, and always saying “I love you.” His grit and tenacity helped him overcome many obstacles, including beating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and his faith helped him survive the tragic loss of his daughter, Brooke. He will be remembered for his kindness, sincerity, big bear hugs, generosity, laugh, stories, long pauses, back scratches, and heart.

Dick is survived by his wife of 53 years, Steven; children Courtney, Devon, Paige, and Craig; daughter-in-law Heather Phelps, son-in-law Jon Mann, and son-in-law Chris Farlow; and grandchildren Guthrie, Emma, Jake, and Hudson. He was preceded in death by his daughter Brooke Phelps, his mother Kate Phelps, and his father Dorman Phelps.

His family will remember him not only for the life he built, but for the lives he touched along the way—and for the love, loyalty, and hard work he gave so freely to the people who mattered most to him.

Services will be held Saturday, September 5th at 10 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 9845 McCree Road in Dallas. Reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.