Richard Sauer

Richard Elgin Sauer, 85, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018. A memorial service to celebrate his wonderful life will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on Butternut Street in Abilene.  Local arrangements under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Richard was born on July 17, 1933 in Roscoe, Texas to R.E. and Ella Sauer. He was the oldest of 5 children where he grew up helping on the family farm. He graduated from Roscoe High School and served in the U.S. Army. He met his lifelong sweetheart, Rosalie, at a Lutheran youth group valentine social. They were married in 1955. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1958 with his B.S. in Pharmacy. He owned and operated a drug store with a soda fountain in Midland, Texas for 10 years, and then moved his family back to the farm in Roscoe where they lived for 17 years. He farmed cotton and continued working as a pharmacist. During that time, he and his wife attended Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas where they received their diplomas in Practical Ministry. They worked in Washington D.C. at the House of Prayer for a short time after graduation before returning to Abilene. He worked as the Director of Pharmacy at the Abilene State School until he retired in 2003. Richard loved working with his hands, whether it was in the kitchen, in the garden, using his pottery equipment, building things, or working with animals. He enjoyed serving in many capacities in men’s ministry through his church and Gideon International.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Rosalie Gerhart Sauer. They have four children: Lester Sauer (Kim), Angela Hoffman (Michael), Nathan Sauer (Kimberly), and Diana Garza (Domingo - deceased), eight grandchildren: Chris (Stephanie), Chelsea (Tim), Casie, David, Luke, Joshua, Justin, and Caleb, and 5 great grandchildren: Aidan, Aria, Averick, Emmalyn, and Shepherd.

Richard is survived by his sister Joyce Benton, his sister-in-law Ginger Sauer, and his brothers-in-law Alvin Gerhart, R.C. Jr. Kurtz, and Bill Wietstruck. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Sauer, his sisters Ruth Ann Wietstruck and Luella Sauer, and his sister-in-law Mary Kurtz.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Gideon International, Box 2882, Abilene, TX 79604.

Condolences may be offered online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.