Obituary of Richard Logan Bilyea

Richard Logan Bilyea, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother went to be with his Lord, July 15, 2021, after a short battle with COVID.Richard – “Rick” to many, was a faithful, loving, and Godly man. He personified the quote “Still waters run deep,” with his quiet character and wise approaches to the challenges of life. He had an endless wealth of knowledge to share, a great sense of humor, a brilliant and logical mind…and if you were ever counted as his friend, you were a friend forever.He was born in Louisiana, Missouri, to parents Dr. David and Carolyn Bilyea, on Christmas Eve 1959. His sisters, Kathryn and Cynthia, welcomed him after a photo of their new baby brother appeared on the tree Christmas morning. Rick lived near his grandparents’ farm (both also physicians) and close to the Mississippi River. He enjoyed a full childhood of scouting, camping, rock-collecting, and play.In pursuit of a Cardiovascular Surgical career, Dr. David Bilyea, moved his growing family to Dayton, Ohio and then Lansing, Michigan for further medical training. Upon completion, the family moved to Fort Worth, Texas where his father joined a surgical practice and taught at the medical school there. Rick attended Monnig Middle School and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1978.It was during this time that he met his wife-to-be and then married Lisa Richardson in 1980. Through their 40 years of marriage together, they raised four children; Daniel, Judith, Drew, and Del, and were later blessed with four beautiful grandchildren.Richard pursued a degree from Devry University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems. He had a successful career of 38 years in the computer industry including owning and operating, Software Terminal, a software and computer outlet in Fort Worth, in partnership with his then-retired father. He often said during this great time with his dad, “He’s the own – I’m the operate.”His last position, and a group of co-workers he enjoyed greatly, was as a Data Base Administrator with Amentum previously Dyncorp, Intl. Rick also was a Certified Cybersecurity expert and constantly encouraged EVERYONE to strengthen their passwords! His expertise was vast and varied in his field and he enjoyed many different positions including a couple of years in Australia with EDS and Seattle with Nokia. One novelty of his employment was holding a patent on one of the software systems his team developed.Patriotism and love of country was deeply engrained in Rick’s personality. He served as a Republican Precinct Chairman for several years and was a delegate to numerous State Republican Conventions.By far, besides his love for family, and his unwavering work ethic, Rick’s dedication to Christ, and his love for his church were the paramount parts of his life. He was a life-long member of Birchman Baptist Church, joining in 1976.Earlier in his education, he acquired extensive video training and an FCC First Class Telephone License. This would come to the fore in his life at Birchman Baptist Church. He began working with the Audio Ministry there in 1977, and continued through to the present Audio/Video/Technology ministry logging 44 years of faithful service only excluding the short times in Australia and Seattle. His sizeable presence at the camera in the sanctuary will be sorely missed by many.A life well-lived, a heart filled with God’s love and God’s word, and a man who has left an indelible imprint on so many – we say farewell until we are together again in Glory.