David Chester Fricker passed away peacefully at Ascension Living Providence Village in Waco, Texas on April 3, 2025. David was born November 24, 1940, in Milwaukee, the only son of Chester Leroy and Hazel Florence (Baker) Fricker. As a child, David enjoyed broadcasting and even operated his own Hamm radio station from the basement of his childhood home in Milwaukee. At the age of 16, David learned about gravel harvesting and worked in the Lippmann Engineering drafting department prior to obtaining his Engineering Education at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

In late 1963, David met the love of his life, Virginia Bernadine Blavat while she was working on an assembly line for the Alan Bradley Company in Milwaukee. David found reason after reason to stop the assembly line to inspect her pilot lights until management finally separated them. By Feb 1, 1964, they were married and began their life together on a farm they purchased near Campbellsport, Wisconsin. But it was David’s passion for electrical engineering and radio broadcasting that brought them to the suburbs of DFW, Texas in 1969.

In the early 1970s, David obtained multiple U.S. patents for voltage regulation and thermal control circuitry used in dimmers and heating appliances. But his claim-to-fame, was his 1973 patent for the trigger diode-controlled motor starting system still in use today on the modern power drill (aka "variable speed control").

In the mid 1970’s, David left the employ of ECC, the Leviton Corporation and Clint Murchison Jr., (Owner of NFL Dallas Cowboys) to purchase one of the largest country music radio stations in Waco, Texas (KAWA). Later, he formed the Broadcast Technical Service Corporation and built over 100 radio stations across southwest America. David was known for grand projects. In 1984, he built Waco’s tallest Christmas tree with lights hung from the radio tower off HWY6.

David’s later years proved rather remarkable again with a second career as the president of the Terlingua-Study Butte water board for over 10 years. On June 1, 2017, Dave and Virginia, ‘Concerned Citizens Highway 170’, were honored with TxDOT’s highest “Adopt-a-Highway” litter award for keeping Texas roads clean. Coming full circle, David came to be involved once again in broadcasting and in the gravel business. He created radio spots for the Terlingua Coyote radio and supplied gravel to Big Bend National Park from his ‘Long Draw’ gravel operation before moving home in late 2019 to be near his cherished family in Central Texas.

Affectionately known as Tricky Fricky, David loved jokes and was a master of puns to the end. He enjoyed music, made his own unique CD collections, loved science and technology, and had a penchant for car rides through raging thunderstorms. He also threw a mean fast ball once clocked at 97MPH.

David was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 yrs, Virginia Bernadine (Blavat) Fricker, and by his parents Chester and Hazel Fricker. He is survived by 5 children and their partners, Victoria Bruce and Mark Haworth in Austin, TX, Mark Fricker and Denise Bain in China Springs, TX, Gwen Fricker in Altai, Russia, Mike and Kelly Fricker in Euless, TX and Paula and Joel Furnace in Golden, CO; his sisters-in-law, Carlene Blavat of Richfield, OH, Mary Blavat of Stevens Point, WI and Angie Blavat of DeWitt, IA; 4 beautiful grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and multitude of nieces and nephews.

David did not wish for a traditional funeral but instead wanted those of us who remain here on earth to celebrate his life together with Virginia in a grand reunion of family and friends. His request was to have his ashes combined with those of Virginia, the love of his life. Details are posted in the RSVP event information on this website. Online remembrances (especially funny stories) may be expressed to the family by visiting David’s obituary at www.lakeshorefuneralhome.com.

Memorial donations may be made to any Alzheimer’s and Dementia association or to the Big Bend Conservancy.

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