Richard Neil Zarza

Richard Neil Zarza II

1956 - 2021

Richard Neil Zarza II, beloved husband, father, son, and friend, passed away on September 13, 2021.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Azle & Lake Worth Funeral Chapel beginning at 2:00 PM.

Richard was born on May 31,1956 in Detroit, Michigan to Richard Neil and Gladys May Zarza. As a child, he enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked and reading every book he could get his hands on. Always curious, and with a love for adventure, he left home to make his way across the country, stopping to work odd jobs from bailing hay to fixing cars along the way. During the Vietnam War, he proudly served his country in the Navy, and began his career as an electrical engineer afterward. 

He was a master of his trade, having worked at prestigious companies like Knott’s Berry Farm, where he helped design “The Dinosaur Ride,” and at Kimberly Clarke, the manufacture of brands like Kleenex and Pampers, which came in handy when he started a family. He was a father of two girls and set out to teach them everything he knew from using power tools to crafting the perfect dad joke.

Later in life, Richard went on to earn his Master's Degree in Education and began teaching Math in California. In 2007, he and his wife moved to Texas where he continued his career teaching Advanced Engineering, Robotics, and Automation in Fort Worth, most recently at Southwest High School. Richard held his students, or his kids as he referred to them, as one of his top priorities and always had wonderful stories to share about their accomplishments.  

As a jack of all trades, Richard dedicated his free time to his love of animals and DIY projects. He adopted a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management; developed the Equestrian Program for the Painted Turtle Camp, one of Paul Newman's camps for ill children; spoiled his dogs, Buddy and Coco; and even became best friends with the skunk living next to his driveway. 

Richard's giving heart never shied from lending a helping hand with a smile on his face. He jumped at any chance to advise, build, or problem solve. Need help with a plumbing job? He was there. Need help moving? He was there. Kid selling candy for a school fundraiser? He was there! Though he thought of himself as a grumpy old man, he made friends wherever he went and prided himself on sticking to his values and always being fair. 

Richard will be deeply and lovingly missed by his wife, Mary Kathleen; children, Jena Zarza, Sabrina Nicole Zarza, Kimberly Marie King, and Richard Lane Kaufman; and grandchildren, Kayla Marie Chitwood, Lillian Grace Kettenring, Zane Andrew Kaufman, and Chancellor Gilbert Kaufman.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Neil Zarza, please visit our floral store.