Richard Merrill Hollenbeck

Richard (Pappy) Merrill Hollenbeck, 63 of Abilene, fell asleep in Christ at the Veterans Hospital in Buffalo, NY on January 26, 2012. A service is scheduled for Friday , February 3rd, 11:00 am at the Piersall Benton Chapel, 733 Butternut St. officiated by Bro. John A Clubb. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 pm in the Texas State Veterans Cemetery. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6-8 pm at the funeral home.

Richard was born December 9, 1948, to Richard and Ethel Conklin Hollenbeck in Syracuse, New York. He spent most of his childhood in New York where he proudly joined the United States Army and served multiple tours in Vietnam. He spent three years in the service and attained the rank of Sergeant and received the Silver and Bronze Star. While Stationed at Ft Hood, TX, Rick met and married Phyllis Blattner, Oct 31, 1970, and together they had three children. Rick was baptized into the Christadelphian Faith in March 1972 where together he and Phyllis raised their family. Rick was in the uniform business, working for several companies and was transferred to Abilene where he retired before entering the trucking business and remained until 2010. Pappy, as he was affectionately known to his grandchildren, loved to spend time with his family and especially cherished his grandkids.


Surviving Rick are his wife Phyllis, two sons; Rick Hollenbeck, Ralph and wife Elizabeth Hollenbeck, two daughters; Wendy and husband Larry Hicks and Janean Friebis, his mother Ethel Conklin, four brothers; Darryl, Glenn, Danny and Arnold Hollenbeck, and eleven grandchildren; Megan, Major, Allyson, and Logan Hollenbeck, Seth, Kaleigh, Emily and Abel Hicks, and Ryan, Joshua, and Kyle Friebis as well as his best friend Gary Tripp. Preceding Pappy in death; his father, Richard Lee; step father Herman Conklin, a son Frankie Hollenbeck, and two sisters; Selene Hollenbeck and Kathy Weaver. The family asks that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to Richard Hollenbeck Memorial Fund at Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.