July 30, 1936 - August 16, 2024
Service
A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on September 21, 2024 at Union Cemetery
Richard Orion Upole Jr., surrounded by family, left us to be with the Lord and our loved ones that have gone before us. His life's journey started in Columbus Ohio July 30th, 1936, and ended in Columbus Ohio August 16th, 2024, at the age of 88, but its how he lived that really shaped who we are and what we will always remember and love.
Early in life, he spent much of his time tending to Grampa Kozsuch's farm in St Clairsville, Ohio, where he learned the value of hard work. After graduating from Kent State with a Geology degree, he went on to start a family and instill in his children the joys of Christianity, music, gardening and the outdoors. Many summers were spent hiking and exploring, seeing many of America's attractions along the way.
He believed in strong neighborly connections as was the case on Atwater Rd in Madison, Ohio. Everyone knew each other, supported each other, and had each other's best interest in mind, even during the friendly-fire shooting of bottle rockets across the yards at each other.
Dad retired from Mitsubishi Fuso after many years of management, enjoying the trips to and from Japan, never forgetting to bring back some local Japanese cultural items for us. Always the consummate business man, he was rarely seen without his buffed and polished Florsheim Wingtips, but knew how to rock cargo shorts and a short-sleeved button-down oxford when it was time to relax.
His singing voice took him from college musicals to church pews to Washington's National Cathedral where he performed with the Exton Chorale. Dad always loved the standard hymns best and would gladly hum or sing along whenever he heard a tune. His love of music included playing the flute and ukulele and carried through with him even until his last days, as he would break out in song or strum his ukulele on a whim.
A lifelong Christian, Dad was a member of the Exton United Methodist Church in Exton PA for over 30 years. He was intimately involved as the Finance Chairmen, leader of both adult Sunday school classes and Bible Studies, on the Missions Committee and in the choir. At the same time, he was also the Finance Chair of the Hispanic Cristo Rey United Methodist Church for many years. Dad was always ready to do anything the church needed, and was willing to give his time and service. He was community and missions driven, and was always one of the first ones to volunteer.
Dad is preceded in death by many family members and is survived in life by many, including his children, Greg Upole, Barbara Herr, Becky Korb and Deb Abner, but all who knew him respected and loved him. He was no nonsense at times, but always had a sarcastic wit and wouldn't spare you from a joke or just a funny face while sticking his tongue out at you and then saying "Whoopee"! He is greatly missed, and will continue to be in our hearts and fond memories until we meet again.
In lieu of flowers, if youd like, please donate to the missions fund at Dad's church in his memory. To do this, mail a check with 'Richard Upole - Missions' in the memo line to Exton United Methodist Church, 181 Sharp Lane, Exton PA 19341. Thank you.
A graveside Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on September 21, 2024 at Union Cemetery, 211 Maple Ave, St Clairsville, Ohio. A luncheon will be held at noon at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 67781 Mall Rd, St Clairsville, OH 43950.
Condolences
Deb (Upole) Abner - Sep 15, 2024
My dad, Richard Upole, passed away Friday after many years of fighting dementia. Heaven's choir is rejoicing as his beautiful tenor voice joins them. When my brother and sisters were talking about the things that came to mind when we thought about dad, Church, music and the outdoors were the first things that came to us. He instilled a love of all three in us. But his straight talk (read 'kicking my butt'), and business advice to me was invaluable, and led to consequences we never imagined. I first remember Dad and my grandfather talking about unions. PopPop was a manager at Good Year and my Dad was a manager for a small manufacturing firm in Erie, PA. They would discuss how to lead in that environment and some of the issues they faced. I remember thinking I should stay away from companies that made things! And ended up at a Bank my whole career! And then, in college, when I decided to change majors from Chemical Engineering to Business, I called Dad to let him know. He listened patiently, asked a few questions, then said "OK. But you have to change schools. We shouldn't pay for you to go to a private college for a business degree". I ended up choosing BGSU. What I didn't know, was that I would meet 4 incredible women there who to this day, are my life long friends! Dad also asked me questions about why I wanted to go into business. I told him I took a Marketing Research class that I really liked. I had to write some reports using a programming language called 'Basic' (it was in 1978), and I was good at it. Kids in the class were paying me to write their programs. He thought a few moments and then told me that computer programming was an up-and-coming thing. He told me I should go into that if I liked it. So I did. And ended up with an almost 40 year career in IT. Which brings me to my last 'kick butt' moment. I was laid off from my first job right before Christmas. Dad was living in Columbus at the time. He called me in January to see how my job search was going, and of course I hadn't even sent out any resumes! So he told me to come to Columbus and stay with him for a couple of weeks. There were lots of jobs available in IT. So I did. And got in touch with a head-hunter, who got me an interview at Huntington. A week later I started with them. Dad coached me through many opportunities, good and bad, that came up at work. Who'd of thought I'd stay there almost 40 years! He convinced me to go back to school for my MBA, where I met two more lifetime friends, and I have several friends from Huntington that I hang out with that I've known over 30 years each! All because of the direction and guidance Dad gave me. Every parent wants their kids to do well, and my Dad did a great job. Without my Dad's love, guidance and advice, my life would be a whole lot different. I can only hope that I have half the same positive impact on my kids. I'll miss his sense of humor, his advice and guidance, his zest for life and his love. Rest In Peace Dad.
Bob Muzikar - Sep 3, 2024
Richard was a kind man and in every true sense of the word, a "gentleman". I was lucky that he sang base in the UMCR choir since I needed to listen to his singing to keep me on key. He certainly was a Godly man. Donna and Richard will be missed by all those that knew them!