Obituaries : Richard (Rich) Dale Hulme

Richard (Rich) Dale Hulme of Katy, Texas passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, with his loving family at his side. He died following a two year illness with cancer. His family is hosting a Celebration of Life visitation on Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the North Tama Activity Center in Traer, Iowa. Private burial will be at the Buckingham Cemetery at a later date. Rich was born in Grundy Center, Iowa on February 15, 1958 to Harlan (Ike) Hulme and Darlys M. Philp Hulme. He lived near Dinsdale for a few years and then the family moved to Traer. Rich was hardworking and kind, and carried these traits throughout his life. He attended North Tama School, Traer, Iowa, and graduated in 1976 as senior class president and recipient of the Bruce Erickson Award as an outstanding athlete. He attended Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri on a baseball and football scholarship. Following graduation in 1981 with a degree in Biology and Chemistry he was hired by Core Laboratories, Dallas, Texas providing services to petroleum companies. His career took him to Midland, Texas (where he earned a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology); Williston, North Dakota; Casper, Wyoming and then to Maracaibo, Venezuela and Mexico where he was an Operation Manager. In 2005, he moved to Katy, Texas and was employed by Schlumberger and SGS North America as a Global Business Development Manager. Rich enjoyed out-of-doors activities and while working in the Western states, he purchased a condo in Big Sky, Montana where he enjoyed hiking, skiing, white water rafting and fly fishing. He will be remembered for his smile and love of his family. He had a passion for baseball and the Iowa Hawkeyes, but he especially enjoyed coaching his son Bryan’s baseball team. His career travels took him to 38 countries. He had the ability to easily learn a new language and was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Rich’s first marriage was to Sarah Byrd on February 14, 1987 and they had three children. Rich is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Helen Hulme Villasmil, and his five children; Cate (Alex) Worthington, Olivia Hulme, Bradley Hulme, Bryan Hulme and Sophia Hulme. He also is survived by his mother, Darlys Hulme; sister, Debra (Dan) Schirm; and three nieces, Megan (Greg) Hupke, Melissa (William) Zenk and Kimberly (Dustin) Schirm. Rich was preceded in death by his father, Harlan Hulme; grandparents Dale and LaVon Hulme and Leland and Dorothy Philp. A service was held for him in Richmond, Texas on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 11 am at the St. Faustina Catholic Church. Memorials can be directed to the Traer Community Foundation for the Richard Hulme Scholarship at North Tama High School, PO Box 435, Traer, Iowa 50675.