Richard was a wonderful Father, Husband, Friend, Grandfather and an inspiration to many as a business leader in the Southern Oregon community.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports and hiking. After graduating from Medford high school, he studied business at University of Oregon, met and married his wife Susie, and raised 4 children. Four peacetime years he served in the US Army as a 1st lieutenant over a tank battalion at Fort Erwin. He loved taking his family camping, traveling and exploring. As an Eagle Scout and Boy Scout troupe leader, Richard oversaw numerous hikes up Mount McLoughlin and backpacking trips through the Northern California Sky Lakes Wilderness. Richard was quick witted and known for his warm sense of humor, also for his diplomatic kindness helping customers and overseeing employees at his family business of 50 years : BATES Wholesale distributors. He studied hard to became a licensed Ham radio operator and Cessna airplane pilot. Music was something Richard loved, and he played piano, banjo and guitar, and loved to sing. Later on, he sold real-estate and was employed at Walmart for 20 years before retiring in 2015. Most of his adult life, he was a member of Medford’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, then in 2007 began attending Applegate Christian Fellowship where he decided to fully surrender to God’s love and profess his faith in Jesus Christ through baptism. Richard is survived by his sister Sandra O'Sullivan of Bend OR, by his children, grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. We hope to carry on his legacy of love, faith, kindness and joy by God's grace as we were all truly blessed to have him in our lives. So now we say farewell until that day when we are reunited in heaven. Well done, good and faithful servant!

An intimate family graveside service will be held at Siskiyou Memorial Gardens followed by a celebration of life meal in his honor. 

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