Richard Charles Benedix

RICHARD CHARLES BENEDIX

Richard Charles Benedix, 77, of Oklahoma City, formerly of Harrah, passed from this life to his rewards in Heaven and a joyous reunion with a host of friends and loved ones on September 23, 2022, in Oklahoma City. He was born June 10, 1945, to Charles Oswin Benedix and Virginia Lee Klotz Benedix in Harrah. He was raised and educated in Harrah graduating from Harrah High School in 1963. His was a lifetime member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.

He attended Murray State College on a baseball scholarship, then transferred to Oklahoma State University and earned a BS Degree in animal husbandry. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a medic and also performed as a sniper. His greatest pleasure in life was watching his daughter, Laura, play golf. He even built her a one-hole, three tee box course adjacent to their home east of town.

He was employed as an ophthalmic photographer. Rick loved to work outside and spent a lot of time raising cattle, including once when he brought a small calf into the house during the winter, used a blow dryer and some very fine quilts and blankets to keep the critter warm and Laura ended up sleeping next to the calf.

He had a gift with woodworking, working on clocks and restoring antiques and even tried his hand on automobiles including a rusty, decrepit 1950 Ford pickup that had been in brother-in-law Bud Kusek's field for years. Rick was determined to fix it up for Laura's first car. They towed it from Bud's house all the way across town to the Benedix abode and everything went well until they got to the sloped driveway off SH 62.

The brakeless pickup got loose, passed up Bud in the tow truck and came to rest on the edge of the property....where it remains today. Laura got a "real" car out of the deal. Rick also enjoyed taking Laura fishing at his Uncle Bill's cabin at Texhoma.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Dora Kusek and Charlotte Nickel, brothers-in-law Jack Martin, Bud Kusek, and Jim Johnson, and in-laws Roy and Irene Johnson.

Survivors include his wife Joyce; daughter Laura and husband Brian Manwell; and two granddaughters Sydnee and Ella Manwell; sister Janet Martin; brothers-in-law John Johnson and Paul Nickel; sister-in-law Pam Johnson.

Visitation at Asa Smith Funeral Service will be Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. Rosary will be Thursday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m. followed by Mass at 11 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the church for family and friends. Graveside services are scheduled for 3 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery ~ Edmond.

Tributes and condolences may be posted on the funeral home web-site www.asasmith.net