RICHARD GILCHIRST Obituary - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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In Memory of

RICHARD SILAS
GILCHIRST

1962 - 2016

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Vondel Smith Mortuary
6934 South Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
UNITED STATES
73139

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Obituary for RICHARD SILAS GILCHIRST

Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary 6934 S. Western Avenue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (405) 634-1439

Richard Silas Gilchrist died Sunday Jan. 17, 2016 at age 52. He was greeted in heaven by his father Richard Scott (“Dick”) Gilchrist and mother Barbara Virginia (“Ginny”) Avant Gilchrist previously from Clinton, OK. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Ann Faulk Gilchrist of Oklahoma City, OK and daughter Elizabeth Trojack of Leedey, OK. Other survivors include his sisters Barbara Frazier (husband Sam) of Edmond, OK, Annette Gilchrist (husband Josh Perry) of Barrington, IL, and brother Rodger Gilchrist (wife Kathy Harris) of Norman, OK.

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Life Story for RICHARD SILAS GILCHIRST

Richard Silas Gilchrist was born on Feb. 14, 1962, a belated birthday gift from his mother Barbara Virginia (Ginny) Avant Gilchrist to his father Richard (Dick) Scott Gilchrist, whose birthday was Feb. 13th. He lived his first 4 years on Quapah Place and then his family moved to N. Military, both in Oklahoma City. He attended West Nichols Hills and Western Village Elementary Schools, Eisenhower Junior High, and Carver High School (where he met Kim, who would eventually become his wife).

The family loved camping, and spent many weekends at what was then Platt National Park enjoying Little Niagara. The story goes that all the kids could swim before they could walk. There were also a lot of road trip vacations which seemed impossibly long, as Richard nearly always got carsick. The trips included Colorado (including an untimely incident between Richard and a cactus), Glacier National Park, and Blue Haven church camp in New Mexico.

Richard graduated from high school in 1981, and went to Oklahoma State University – Okmulgee, to become a diesel mechanic. While there he decided he would rather “drive them, then fix them” and went on to truck driving school. He spent years driving over-the-road and eventually ended up at Global Express in 1993. When his mother fell ill in 2000 he became a local driver, spending most of his time driving in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.

He married Kimberly Ann Faulk on July 19th, 2003 at Southwest Church of Christ, with Jay Abels officiating the ceremony. Richard was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004, and then again in 2008. Even as he battled health problems he always maintained a sunny disposition. After he was diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer, his doctors insisted he retire in February 2015.

None of us will forget his love of media, movies, tv, books on tape, and novels. From science fiction to Louis L’ Amour he listened, watched, and read them all, sometimes over and over. He also enjoyed games, including computer gaming, and was a big fan of World of Warcraft and Diablo.

Because of Richard’s serious health issues, he understood better than most, that the years go by fast. He knew what really mattered and loved deeply, laughed often and gave generously. His childlike spirit and infectious laugh will be missed. We are grateful for our time together.

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