Richard Billings

RICHARD BRUCE BILLINGS, Ph. D

Richard Bruce Billings (known as Bruce) was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, December 5, 1938. His parents worked in the local bank until his dad became disabled. Rather than suffer in a cold climate, the family moved to Prescott, Arizona when Bruce was 11. There, Bruce completed school where he played the flute in the marching band.

He attended the University of Arizona majoring in Engineering, Math, and eventually Economics. Bruce met his future wife, Pat Barnum, at the Wesley Foundation, the college arm of the Methodist Church. They married in 1961 adopting Stephen in 1967 and David in 1969. Bruce earned his Ph.D. at Claremont, California in 1968.

He and Pat provided meals for Wesley students and arranged alumni reunions until the week of her death. Bruce stayed active in the financial affairs of Wesley, the Campus Christian Center, and First United Methodist Church until the final year of his life. Methodist clergy and lay folks honor him for the influence he had in their lives.

Bruce biked to Eller college where he taught economics for 35 years. His research interest, water use, resulted in two published books and numerous articles. Bruce served on the Citizens Water Advisory Board in Tucson and had cisterns holding 4000 gallons of rain water installed at his final home.

He was a Boy Scout Leader and helped maintain trails at Sabino Canyon. Bruce’s hobbies included hiking, canoeing, home remodeling, wood working, and chess.

In 2000, Bruce married Mary Judith Lopez, a widow he had met at church 28 years earlier. Bruce and Mary enjoyed travel, beginning with a honeymoon in China to see construction on the Three Gorges Dam. They trailered to relatives in Maine, Utah, and Colorado, and toured Spain, France, Turkey, British Columbia, and Baja California.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 915 E 4th St. Tucson, Saturday, June 1 at 11 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, Bruce requested donations be made to the Wesley Foundation.