Richard Tyrone Wooten's Obituary
On Friday, 30 July 2021, Richard Tyrone Wooten passed away peacefully in his sleep in Mansfield, Texas, after his courageous battle with renal failure. Because of Richard’s unwavering faith, we know he is now with the arms of his Heavenly Father.
Richard was born on December 14, 1974, in Fort Worth, Texas to the late Robert Spencer Wooten, Jr. and Sharon Elizabeth Powell. He was the middle child in his house, having been preceded in death by his older brother Robert Joshua Wooten, who passed away in 2014. Richard is survived by his wife Geralyn Wooten, daughters Libby G. Wilson and Savannah T. Wooten, sisters April M. Hoover and Karen Walker, brother Randy Braswell, nieces Rebecca Maddox and Robin Walker, nephew Jim Sprinkles, great-niece Savannah Class, and many beloved friends who were family to him throughout his life.
Graduating in 1993 from Paschal High School, Richard was one of the most popular students in his class and voted “Most Athletic” by his peers. He was a born leader and an avid athlete and a member of the Paschal Panthers football team and was recognized as one of the Top Five Tight-Ends in the State of Texas in 1993. He played on his high-school baseball team and was also a competitive athlete on the weight team.
Richard received a full scholarship to play college football at Texas Christian University from 1993-1994 and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was proud of his many academic and athletic achievements, and for earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Abilene Christian University followed by an MBA in 2011.
In college, Richard was voted as a Texas Top 100 Player (Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Houston Chronicle-1993), was a 4 yr. Starter at Defensive Tackle, a Lonestar Conference Freshman of the Year at Abilene Christian University in 1994, an All-Conference player in both Freshman and Senior years, voted to the All-Decade Team at ACU, received the honored Purple White Award from his college coaches for leadership, was voted as a member of the Team Council, and was a record holder in Bench competition (475lbs and Squat 665lbs).
To his buddies and coaches, he was known as “Big Woot”, “The Rich”, and “Coach”. Most remember him as a “gentle giant”, a “star”, “humble”, “heroic”, and a “rock”, and “the man you want to have on your team”. Richard is described by his generous, kind heart, great sense of humor, and intelligence. He was a loyal player everyone wanted on their team. He was reliable, honorable, trustworthy, and devoted to the people he cared about. Richard is described by his friends and family as “a man of great character”, “a godly man”, and a “loving father” and “devoted husband”.
Richard’s positive spirit and radiant smile were contagious to everyone around him. As a devoted and passionate high school football coach, Richard loved mentoring his students as athletes and building them up to be the best they could be in life, and his positive influence contributed to their success on and off the field.
The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Richard. He was passionate about great food and getting together with friends and family. He believed in the power of prayer and God’s written Word. He was adventurous and got excited about swimming with giant sharks in Thailand, hiking in the snowy mountains, and traveling the world whenever he could.
Richard’s love for travel would eventually lead him to Guiyang, China, in 2018, where he taught English. There, he married the love of his life, Geralyn, on June 16th, 2019. Richard was a loving husband to Geralyn and devoted father to their beautiful 2-year-old daughter Savannah. The trio relocated as a family to Geralyn’s native home in the Philippines, where they lived until Richard’s health deteriorated, requiring him to return to the USA to seek adequate medical care. This could not have been done without the overwhelmingly generous contributions made by so many friends who knew and loved him throughout his life and career- our heartfelt thanks to everyone responsible for making this happen, and to Trey Carrion for organizing such a successful fundraiser to get Richard back home to the USA.
Since returning from the Philippines in 2020, Richard was cared for by one of his best friends, GiGi Tippens, who provided a home and everything he needed to recover and cared for him for over a year as a much beloved family member. In January 2021, Richard became ill from the battle with renal failure that would lead to his early passing. His last day was spent in the company of GiGi’s dog, whom he loved and spent his final hours with. Richard died peacefully of congestive heart failure resulting from his courageous battle with renal failure in January 2021.
Richard’s family and friends want to especially thank GiGi from the bottom of our hearts for the abundance of support, love, and provision you gave to Richard these past two years, and we will be eternally grateful for all that you did for him so that he could have the best care and quality of life possible. You are the perfect example of unconditional and unfailing love and were closer than a sister. We are so grateful for everything you have done for Richard over the years.
And finally, Richard’s closest friends and family would like to thank Richard’s closest friends for the additional support you all provided to make his memorial and burial possible. We are forever grateful and humbled by your acts of love and generosity.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be at Mansfield Funeral home at 1556 Heritage Pkwy., Mansfield, Texas 76063 at 11:00 a.m. on August 21st, 2021, followed by a graveside burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 2301 Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Texas, 76111 at 12:20 p.m. and to conclude at One Love Lounge Caribbean Restaurant at 2315 South Cooper St., Arlington, Texas, 76015 until 6:00 p.m. for a time to gather together with food, friends and family to remember him as he would have wished.
“Richard- beloved husband, father, friend and family...we will cherish your memory always and honor your life today, until we meet again.”
Special Message:
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Richard Wooten Family GoFundMe link here, thank you: https://gofund.me/82d10ac1
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