Robert Martin “Birdy”, “Rick”, “Bobby”, “Butch”, “Boo Boo” Richter the son of Martin Max and Winnifred Pauline (Marshall) Richter was born July 17, 1944 in Flushing, New York, and departed this life at 9:40 PM on May 13, 2016 at the age of 71 after a 2 year heroic battle with cancer and congestive heart failure. He was comforted by his wife and surrounded by his loving family at his home in Owasso, Oklahoma.
Bobby moved to Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 4 and was raised by his loving grandparents, Suggie and Babe Bankson, until the age of 13. At that time Bobby and his sister Carolyn moved to Tulsa to live with his father and step-mother. He attended St. Peter and Paul grade school, graduated from Bishop Kelley High School, attended Tulsa University, and also took classes at Tulsa junior College. Bobby married Karen Williams on June 20, 1964 in Tulsa.
Bobby loved writing poems and jokes. He was an avid golfer, played slow pitch soft ball, baseball, basketball, but his heart’s desire was playing tennis. He loved playing tennis with his daughter Yvette and numerous friends. Bobby also loved going to Tulsa University football games with his two sons Bryan and Erik and his longtime friend and brother-in-law, Pete Siemon. He loved his coffee, chocolate cake, and cherry pie. Bobby loved listening to his music. He loved the Moody Blues, the Beatles, ELO, and REM. He also was a great history buff. He loved the history channel and politics.
Bobby made his career working as a machinist for 50 years, before retiring from Superior Honing and Grinding at the age of 68. He said he missed all the guys he worked with; Ray Turner, Tom, Rip, Cory, Tyrone, and Fabien and especially you “Tony”. Don Patrick if you see this Bobby misses you.
He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandparents Suggie and Babe Bankson, Robert and Lill Marshall, and fraternal grandparents Max and Anna Richter. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Martin and stepmother Betty Richter, and mother Winnifred and stepfather George Brewer, one sister, Carolyn (Richter) Mehta, Aunt Chris Cercone, and his beloved mother-in-law Erika “Mutti” Williams.
Robert is survived by a very loving family that includes his loving wife of the home, Karen Richter, two sons, Erik Richter of Owasso, Oklahoma, and Bryan Richter and fiancée Robbi Reeg of Norman, Oklahoma; one daughter, Yvette Crockell and husband Dave of Orangevale, California; two granddaughters, Cayla Crockell and Hope Crockell both of Orangevale, California; one sister, Annette Sue Jones and husband Randy of Collinsville, Oklahoma; 2 nieces, Shannon Curbelo and husband Matthew of New York, New York and Gentry Burnie of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one cousin, Carol Sue Whitworth of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bobby loved his pets, Buster, Bear, Daisy, Buffy, and Zoe. Bobby also wanted to thank his long-time friends and good friend Cheryl Sappington and her husband Bobby and their daughter Leslee of Sperry, Oklahoma. Other relatives and many friends also survive him including numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank all the doctors and medical staff who provided such great loving care: Dr. John Eckenrode and his medical assistant Stephanie (oncology), Dr. Poorya Fazel, cardiology, Dr. Alpana Pasricha, nephrology, Dr. Stephen Sack, radiation oncology, Dr. Brian Crotty, PCP and staff Tamera, St. John Hospice Brenda Anderson, Robbie Rufi, Andrea Kinder, Teri Rats (FNP), palliative care, Dr. Furgan Muhammad at St. Francis.
Service will be conducted by Father Matt La Chance, pastor at St. Henry’s Church, Owasso, Oklahoma. Please pray for Bobby, he loved God, he loved life, and his love for his family was eternal and everlasting.
Funeral services have been entrusted to the Dighton-Moore Funeral Service, Owasso, Oklahoma.
www.dightonmoorefuneralservice.com
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