Richard "Ricky"

Anthony Pajak

Richard 'Ricky" Anthony Pajak, 74, originally of Baltimore, MD and Harford County, MD, and a resident of Harlingen, TX since 2013, passed away on November 28, 2018 in Harlingen after a brief illness.

Richard was born on May 22, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of Theodore and Eugenia (Jean) Pajak.

Richard was a United States Marine Corps Veteran and served in Santo Domingo and in Vietnam. He was a member of the 1st Battalion 9th Marines and was part of the forces that fought the battle of Khe Sanh. His period of service in both active duty and the Marine Corps Reserves was 1963-1969. He reached the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the following: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Sharpshooters Badge M-14 Rifle.
After his military service, most of his career was at Bata Shoe Company in Belcamp, MD. He was an avid, outstanding, lifelong fisherman with intimate knowledge of the Susquehanna flats in Maryland. His specialty was fishing for rockfish and perch in the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay. He also developed fishing expertise in the arroyos and bays of South Texas in the time he lived there.

His parents, Theodore P. Pajak and Eugenia Pajak of Bel Air, MD, his brother, Theodore T. Pajak of Harlingen, TX, and his sister, Barbara Green of Clearwater, Florida, precede him in death.

He is survived by his daughter Melissa S. Rusnak and her husband Gilbert J. Rusnak, granddaughter Krystal M. Rusnak, grandson Benjamin J. Rusnak Sr., and great grandson Benjamin J. Rusnak Jr. all of Darlington, MD; and by his siblings, John Pajak, of North Beach, MD, Mary Jean Pajak and her husband, Maurice Walters, of Washington DC; sister-in-law Deolinda R. Pajak, of Harlingen, TX, brother-in-law Jim Green of Oldsmar, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

On Monday, December 3, 2018 Family will receive guests from 5 pm until the time of the holy rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm, at Trinity Funeral Homes in Harlingen.

Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Harlingen.

Inurnment to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in La Feria with full military honors under the auspices of American Legion Post 205 and VFW Post 2410.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home 1002 E. Harrison Ave. Harlingen, TX 78550 (956)364-2444.