Stephen Randal Davidek, Sr.

Stephen Randal Davidek, Sr., 75, of Harwood, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. He was born June 27, 1940 in Wharton County to Thomas and Dorothy Baker Davidek. Stephen married Dorothy Aline Thorpe on April 1, 1961 in Bay City. He was a member of the Houston Police Officers Association.

Stephen grew up in Boling and worked for his father in the family owned Boling Ice House. He played baseball and football for Boling High School and graduated with the Class of 1957. 

Growing up he enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing and going “plinking” with his brother at the creek on the family farm. He started studying to be a HAM operator in 1957 and received his call sign K5LTK. 

Stephen went to work as a technician for Channel 13 in Houston and later helped build Channel 16 from the ground up. He worked as a technician for Channel 2 in Houston and through his affiliation with them he worked at NASA and was sent to accompany the crew on the USS Iwo Jima to film and document the splashdown of Apollo 13.  

Stephen joined the Houston Police Department working in the radio shop where in 20 years of dedicated service he earned the rank of captain. After retiring he and his wife moved to Harwood. 

He was the kind of man who couldn’t sit idle. He rebuilt his father’s 1957 International Harvester utility tractor to its original magnificence and he rebuilt several other tractors as well. 

Stephen enjoyed tending his large garden and fishing with his wife at the tank and creek. He loved his family and was especially proud of his sons and grandchildren as they were proud of him. They respected their father and learned so very much from his wealth of knowledge. Though he was stubborn and sassy at times, he was always light hearted about it as well. He cherished visits from his grandchildren; he appreciated their love and savored those very special letters he received. 

Stephen and Dorothy were blessed with 54-and-a-half years of marriage, the culmination of compromise and unconditional love.

Stephen Randal Davidek, Sr. is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy A. Davidek of Harwood; sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen Randal Davidek, Jr and Rita of Houston, Lon Allen and Michele Davidek of Houston; sister, Dorothy Gaile of Cedar Park; sister-in-law, Johnnie Mae Davidek of San Antonio; and five grandchildren, Cheven, Tylyn, Gabrielle, Avery and Grayson Davidek. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Tommy Davidek.  

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Harwood Cemetery. Pallbearers are Stephen Davidek, Jr., Lon Davidek, David Targac, Spencer Targac, Trey Dietrich and Richard Dietrich.  Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

The family will receive friends from 1 - 2 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. 

Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.