Richard Leroy Douthitt's Obituary
Richard was born on July 14, 1942, in Salem, Illinois, to Clifford and Inez Douthitt. He met his Savior on January 23, 2025, at the age of 82. Richard's early years were spent in Longview, Texas, where he grew up with his siblings, Nancy and Larry. He attended Pine Tree High School and went on to pursue higher education at the University of North Texas, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
An Army veteran, Richard served his country with honor during the Viet Nam war. His military service was a source of pride for him, and he carried this patriotic spirit throughout his life.
In 1968, Richard married Judy, the love of his life, at First Baptist Church of Dallas. Their union was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Donna and Ashley, who brought immense joy and pride to Richard's life. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, always putting his family first, creating a home filled with love and laughter. Above all, he was a man of impeccable integrity.
Richard had a successful career in credit management, starting at General Electric (where he and Judy met) and ending at Alcon Laboratories. Looking forward to spending more time with his family and pursuing his hobbies, he retired in 2005. Richard was a collector of all things including coins, stamps, belt buckles, pocketknives, Monte Blanc pens, German nutcrackers, foreign currency, etc. You name it, he collected it! Richard was also an avid stock option trader.
He and Judy loved to travel. Among some of the countries they explored together were the Biblical sites of Israel, and historical sites of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. They also enjoyed cruising!
Richard enjoyed hunting and was always eager to show off his “trophies”! His love for animals, especially dogs, was boundless. His compassion for all living creatures was a testament to his kind and gentle nature, whether it was rescuing baby ducks in the pool, or capturing a wayward turtle. We would like to think he was met in Heaven by his dogs, Daisy, Snickers, Bentley and Griffin.
Richard trusted Christ as his Savior when he was about 25 years old. We are confident now that he is absent from the body, and present with the Lord. Richard was a faithful servant of the Lord. He and Judy were leaders in several capacities at First Baptist, Dallas. Richard's passing leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his unwavering love for his family, his adventurous spirit, and his generous heart.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Inez Douthitt.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; his daughters, Donna Grubbs (and spouse, Shad) and Ashley Austin (and spouse, Jeff); his grandchildren, Gatlin Grubbs, Mikayla Cardie (and spouse,
Conrad), Macy Warshawsky, and Braxton Warshawsky; his siblings, Nancy Aldinger (Tom) and Larry Douthitt; and numerous extended family members.
A celebration of Richard's life will be held at Cottonwood Creek Church, Allen, TX, on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. where family and friends will gather to honor his memory and share stories of the wonderful, kind man he was. His was a life well lived.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Richard’s name to First Baptist Church, Dallas, the Church Campus Redevelopment Fund at firstdallas.org
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