Richard Helmcamp

Richard “Dick” Helmcamp, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022 at Harris Methodist Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was a great family man, educator, mentor, entertainer, and friend.


Born to Adolph Jack and Daisy Dabney Helmcamp, raised in Yoakum, Texas, Dick graduated from Yoakum High School and attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where he received his bachelor and masters’ degrees in Music Education. He met his future wife, Patsy Ann Albers, at the university and they married in July of 1963 in Alief, Texas.


Dick worked as a teacher and band director in Lockhart, Kountze, Ranger, and ended his career in Cleburne, Texas where he spent the last 25 years directing the Golden Pride of Cleburne High. (SUTA!) He also dedicated his spare time to his love for theater, acting, singing, and directing stage performances and music with Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players.


Upon retirement in 1994, he and Patsy moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. In Vegas he worked as a blackjack dealer at two Circus Circus Casinos, Silver City and Excalibur. Dick and Patsy returned to Cleburne in 1997 opening Helmcamp’s Recyclepedia, a used bookstore. Dick resumed his acting, singing, and directing pursuits with Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players and Plaza Theater of Cleburne.


Dick is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patsy Helmcamp, children, Monty and Janet Helmcamp of Godley, Texas, and Bret and Tracy Baker of Cleburne, Texas, and eight grandchildren, Hayden Helmcamp, Kendall Smith Cockrum, Devin Moralez, Nolan Moralez, Lena Moralez, Heather Baker, Kaitlin Baker, and Ashley Baker. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Carol Lindquist, Mike Helmcamp, Melissa Helmcamp, Randy Vacek, and Michelle Schartzwalter. Dick is preceded in death by both parents and his brother Carl.


Visitation with the family will be Sunday, February 13th, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home in Cleburne, Texas. The memorial service will be held Monday, February 14th, 2022, 10 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Cleburne. A memorial has been established benefitting First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 114, Cleburne, TX 76033.


A celebration of life will be held at a later date for Dick’s extended family, the Golden Pride Alumni and Cleburne’s theater family, Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players, Plaza Theater Company, and all others whose lives he touched.