Richard Dean "Dick" Schreiber

Richard Dean “Dick” Schreiber was born on September 25, 1931, in Hammond, Indiana. He lived a life marked by independence, generosity, humor, and an unwavering devotion to the people he loved. Dick never met a stranger. He loved people, delighted in conversation, and had a rare ability to make everyone feel heard and valued. Dick spent his earliest years on the outskirts of Chicago before his father, in the midst of the Great Depression, packed up the family and headed across the country for the bustling metropolis of Bluetown, Texas. There, Dick grew up on a farm along the Rio Grande River. Long before he could shave he was driving a tractor, tending fields, picking cotton, milking cows—his favorite chore—and hunting from the seat of a bicycle. The confidence and self-reliance he developed there stayed with him for the rest of his life. At just 16, Dick began attending Shriner College in central Texas, where he quickly made a memorable impression. He earned the dubious honor of receiving the most demerits for a single incident -apparently, the College did not approve of students making homemade explosives in chemistry lab, and disapproved even more of testing them on campus trees. Dick next enlisted in the United States Air Force, hoping to become a fighter pilot. While a flight cadet he demonstrated a strong gift for creative problem-solving. His eyesight fell short of the Air Force’s standards for pilots so Dick had a cousin make him corrective sunglasses, memorized the eye chart, and managed to enjoy months of flight school before his instructors uncovered the lenses. He was reassigned as a surgical technician in a military hospital, caring for servicemembers returning from the Korean war. Witnessing their suffering and resilience left a deep and lasting impression on him. After his discharge, Dick used the GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where he learned a degree in Zoology. He then began a long and distinguished career in finance that took him from throughout South Texas to Houston, Corpus Christi, Midland/Odessa, and ultimately to San Antonio. It was in San Antonio that Dick met Frances Helen Strauss, the love of his life for the next 54 years. Together they built a family that became the center of his world. Their sons, Eric and Rick, brought Dick his greatest joys—and, at times, his greatest frustrations. He loved them deeply and was immensely proud of the men they became and all they accomplished. Dick loved the outdoors: hunting, camping, fishing, and simply being outside. He also loved Spanish-language poetry and could recite verse upon verse at a moment’s notice, even in his final days. On his drives to work, he even listened to recordings of Mexican poets. Above all, Dick loved people, and he loved helping them. As a loan officer, he used his position not simply to assess numbers, but to see potential. He helped thousands of people get their start, including any new doctors and lawyers in South Texas who received their first line of credit from him—sometimes to open a practice, sometimes simply to buy their first real suit for court. If Dick believed someone was good for it, he gave them a chance. He was rarely wrong. Still, the people he loved most were his family. He took great joy in watching both of his sons enter the legal profession and establish careers of their own. He was especially proud to become “Papa” to his three beloved granddaughters, Vivienne, Genevieve, and Madeleine. Through every chapter of his life, Dick’s enduring love for Frances remained constant. He treasured their time together and made every effort to be by her side. Dick was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and all those fortunate enough to have known him. His humor, generosity, fierce independence, and belief in the goodness and promise of others leave a legacy that will endure. Dick is survived by his wife, Frances; his sons, Eric (Priscilla) and Rick (Shannon); his granddaughters, Vivienne, Genevieve, and Madeleine; and numerous nephews and cousins. Visitation is Sunday August 9, 2026 from 1-3 PM at Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. in McAllen. Funeral Mass is Tuesday August 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Chuch in McAllen. Burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, 14166 Business 83 in La Feria TX 78559.

Tributes

Richard Dean "Dick" Schreiber

August 5, 2026