Richard W. Mabry, 73, structural designer

Richard Wendell Mabry, 73, of University City, a structural and electrical designer, died of complications from infections Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Mabry worked for United Engineers in Philadelphia. He then was with Fluor Corp., an engineering firm in Marlton. He retired in 2000.

In 2002 and 2003, he was a consultant to Robins Industrial & Building Supplies Inc. His technical skills helped the small minority business bid on major projects, said his daughter, Yvette.

Mr. Mabry graduated from Overbrook High School in 1957 and then attended Temple University. From 1961 to 1963, he served in the Army in Germany.

After his discharge, he earned a certificate in drafting from the Opportunities Industrialization Center and earned a certificate in industrial electricity from Spring Garden College. He also took courses at Temple.

Mr. Mabry was on the cross-country team at Overbrook. He later ran in two Philadelphia marathons and participated in the Philadelphia Broad Street Run and worked out at the YWCA in West Philadelphia.

Every year, he attended the Penn Relays, and he went to the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal and the 1996 Games in Atlanta with his daughter.

He enjoyed travel and visited Las Vegas every March on his birthday.

Since 1963, he had been married to Yvonne Sandle Mabry. The couple met at a New Year's Eve party.

Mr. Mabry was a longtime member of the men's ministry and adult Sunday school at Mount Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church. In 2008, he sponsored a "Dollars for Scholars" program for the youth ministry.

He "valiantly fought" kidney disease for more than 25 years, his daughter said.

Mr. Mabry is survived by his wife and daughter.

A funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Mount Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church, 647 N. 42d St. Burial will be in Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia.

Donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 E. 33d St., New York, N.Y. 10016.

Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com.