Richard (Rich) Leroy Tinsley passed away on March 6, 2025, after a long battle with diabetes and other health complications. He is survived by his wife, Betty Stone Tinsley and two brothers, Bill Tinsley of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Tom Tinsley of Hallsville, Texas. He remained upbeat, optimistic, and engaged with life to the very last.
Born September 30, 1943, he was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Leola Tinsley of Corsicana, Texas. Also, a host of life-long friends. Among them: Don Carter, Weldon (Buzz) Sawyer, Audrey Powell, and David Beene.
Richard’s love of mechanics and cars started early. At 13, he leveraged his job delivering Western Union telegrams by bike to purchase a new moped which he successfully dismantled on the first day of purchase and then reassembled just because he wanted to see how it worked. At about the same time, he began repairing mopeds for Sears. Richard’s talent in mechanics made him a leader among local sportscar enthusiasts. Over the years, he accumulated a small collection of cars.
A graduate of Corsicana High School class of 1962 and Navarro Junior College, Richard earned his degree in architecture from The University of Texas in Austin. Following his service with the U.S. Air Force in Italy from 1969 to 1973, he returned to Austin and as a licensed architect, began to design and build custom homes in the hills overlooking the city. From his training at The University and his experiences in working with computers in the military, Richard became well-known for his Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills in Austin and Houston. After retirement, Richard and Betty began to invest in beach houses in the Galveston area where they hosted vacationers, helping them to fall in love with the historic city and its tropical climate.
Richard was deeply loved by all who knew him. He was known for his intelligence, gentleness, kindness, and loyalty.
A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, 520 W. Collins Street, Corsicana at 11:00 a.m.
