Obituary for Richard Fellrath

Dr. Richard Frederick Fellrath

(May 28, 1938 – June 29, 2016)

Dr. Richard Frederick Fellrath of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Wednesday morning, June 29, 2016, in the Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 78 years.

Dr. Richard Frederick Fellrath was born on May 28, 1938, in Blackwell to Dr. Floranz Frederick and Enid Juanita (Richard) Fellrath. He attended Blackwell Elementary School, St. Catherine’s Military Academy in Anaheim, California, and Blackwell High School graduating with the class of 1956. He furthered his education at the University of Oklahoma where he was an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated from the university in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology. He then attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry earning his D.D.S. degree in 1965.

He married Patricia Ann Butler on July 16, 1960, at First Baptist Church in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. They moved with their two sons to Blackwell in June 1965 where Richard joined his father in the family dental practice established in 1922. Richard practiced dentistry until 1995 when he retired due to a vision problem. He was active in professional and community activities during his career serving as secretary-treasurer of the Oklahoma Dental Association, representative to the State of Oklahoma Dental House of Delegates, and president of the Northwest District Dental Association. His Masonic activities included Worshipful Master of Chikaskia Lodge #109, 32nd Degree Mason, Master Mason, Knight’s Templar and Akdar Shrine. A member of the First Christian Church since 1945, Richard served on the church cabinet, as Chairman of Deacons, sang in the choir, taught the Bethel series, and was a member of the Mr. and Mrs. Sunday School Class. He also served as Scoutmaster of Troop 31.

Community memberships included president of Rotary Club, Blackwell Country Club Board of Directors, American Red Cross Board of Directors, Elk’s Lodge and Little League coach. Following his retirement he continued to serve on the Blackwell Community Foundation Board and was a participant in the Harvard School of Public Health studies. He earned first place in the United States in 2001 as the United States Chess Federation Master Problem Solver. Chess was a special hobby of Richards that he shared by teaching students in the gifted program at Blackwell Middle School. He also enjoyed contract bridge and won first place in the University of Oklahoma Intercollegiate Bridge tournament in 1959. During retirement he was especially interested in the activities of his two grandsons.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia of Blackwell; two sons, Richard Fellrath Jr. M.D. and wife Christine of Asheville, North Carolina, and Douglas Fellrath J.D. and wife Rebecca of Oklahoma City; and two grandsons, Owen and Evan Fellrath of Oklahoma City.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 6th in the First Christian Church in Blackwell with Rev. Jeff Koch officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Bill Rodgers Jr., Jim Willis, Jim Rodgers, Dr. Paul Briggs, Mike Bickford and Bruce Hammer. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Gary Schuermann, Frank Dyer, Charles Blackwood, J. C. Estes, Wes Childers, JoDel Shepherd, Spike Henderson, Dr. Charles Hahn and the Blackwell High School Class of 1956.

Memorials have been established in his honor with the First Christian Church and Blackwell Associated Charities in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.