Richard "Dick" Lee Ostos Sr.

Richard Lee Ostos, 97, a longtime resident of Brownsville, died on January 15, 2010 at Valley Regional Medical Center.

Dick was born in Wellsville, New York, but spent most of his younger years in Monterrey, Mexico. After graduating from high school at the American School in Monterrey in 1930, he went to Wellsville to work for the Wellsville Daily Reporter, a newspaper owned by his aunt. It was there that he met and married Vivian Elizabeth Kailbourn in 1933. Shortly thereafter they moved to Monterrey, Mexico and then to El Mante, Tamps., where he was employed by the Mexico Highway Department. Late in 1934 they moved to Brownsville, Texas, where he went to work at the Port of Brownsville.

In 1940, when almost all shipping was severely curtailed by the proximity of World War II, he landed a job in New York City that eventually lead him and his family to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they lived for seven years. During this period in Puerto Rico, he worked for the War Shipping Administration.

At the end of World War II, he founded Caribe Shipping Company. He was awarded the U.S. Navy contract to handle their cargo ships in the 10th Naval District. In 1947, Dick sold Caribe Shipping in Puerto Rico and he and his family returned to Brownsville. With friends he had made through Caribe Shipping Co., in New York, and his friends at the Port of Brownsville, he was able to open his own company, Dix Shipping Company Inc., a stevedoring and ship agency business in Brownsville and later in Corpus Christi.

At Dicks retirement in 1980, his three sons took over the management, operations, and ownership of all the Dix companies, however, he continued to have an active interest in the company up until his passing.

Dick was an avid sportsman and enjoyed taking his family on hunting, fishing, and camping trips over the years and he was able to pass this love of the outdoors on to his children and grandchildren. In 1984, he built a private fishing lodge on the bank of the Soto La Marina River in Mexico where the entire family and their friends enjoyed wonderful times.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Vivian Kailbourn Ostos his parents, Jose Antonio Ostos and Mildred Lee Ostos, both of Monterrey, Mexico his sister, Carmela Ostos Gil, and his brother, Jack A. Ostos, both of Mexico City.

He is survived by his two daughters, Patricia Jab CheshireMurray of Corpus Christi and Anne Brad McCumber of Brownsville three sons, Richard L.Crystal Ostos Jr., of Arroyo City, Daniel A., Sylviaof Kerrville, and Robert A. Nancy Ostos of Laguna Vista, 13 grandchildren, 17 greatgrandchildren his sisterinlaw, Terry Ostos a niece and two nephews.

The family will greet friends on Sunday, January 17, 2010, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating Dicks life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts in Richards name be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 435 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78520.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Irma Castillo, his caregiver for the past 7 years, for her dedication and compassion.

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