Body recovered of Texas camp director who died heroically trying to save kids:' Dick was the father figure to all of us'
Eastland, who had been involved with the private all-girls Christian camp since purchasing it in 1974 and served as its director, died trying to save his kids from the devastating flash flooding that ripped through the region on Friday, according to Texas Public Radio.
Eastland's nephew confirmed his death via Facebook.
Dick Eastland died trying to save some of the girls at his camp.
Camp Mystic
Eastland and his wife, Tweety, owned the camp. They were the third owners since the camp was first erected in 1926.
Tweety was found safe at the couple's home, reports indicated.
Eastland taught fishing to the younger campers, and former participants described him as a caring, grandfatherly figure. The couple were revered by campers, and often seen teaching or roaming the camp grounds.
'Dick was the father figure to all of us while we were away from home at Camp Mystic for six weeks,' wrote former camper Paige Sumner. 'He was the father of four amazing boys, but he had hundreds of girls each term who looked up to him like a dad.
'I would never have taken a fishing class if it wasn't taught by my new friend Dick.'
Eastland previously survived a bout with brain cancer, according to the Kerrville Daily Times.
He also served on the Hunt Independent School District Board and was a former coach for the West Kerr County Little League and the West Kerr County Little Dribblers, the outlet reported.
At least two dozen girls from the camp remain missing.
Officials have so far recovered the bodies of 27 people, including at least four young campers who were swept away.
Eastland bought the camp in 1974 with his wife, Tweety.
LeslieEastland/Facebook
There were some 750 campers on site when the flooding started Friday.
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No campers were residing at the site when the floods hit and and most of those who were there have been accounted for, according to the statement. Sarah Marsh, a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary School in Alabama, would have entered third grade in August. She, too, was attending Camp Mystic and her grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, asked for prayers in a post on Facebook on Friday. Just hours later she shared online that her granddaughter was among the girls killed. "We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!" she said. In a post on Facebook, Alabama Senator Katie Britt said she's "heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Marsh, and we are keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time". Nine-year-old Janie Hunt from Dallas, was also attending Camp Mystic and died in the floods. 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