Richard Thomas Colbert Jr.

1928 - 2021

Richard Thomas Colbert, Jr.
February 2, 2021
Hanahan, South Carolina - Richard Thomas Colbert, Jr., 92, of Hanahan, S.C. passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Mr. Colbert was born December 5, 1928 in Beacon, NY, the third of 12 children, to the late Richard Thomas and Pauline Margaret Staniewicz Colbert.

He often said he moved to South Carolina "so I would find the love of my life", Patricia Marie Kinard. They were joined in Holy Matrimony in August 1950, and were happily married for 70 years.

In 1947 he started working in the wood yard at West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in North Charleston moving up throughout his 47 years. He was proud of the improvements for employee safety implemented at the mill while he served as Safety Officer with the local union.

As a father he became active as a boy scout troop leader. Eventually he led his troop on a 50 mile backpacking hike on the Appalachian Trail. He was honored when former troop members came to him to express their appreciation for the knowledge he imparted and the experiences which prepared them for life. He was a scout master and a commissioner.

He enjoyed painting, carving, photography, fishing, gardening, word puzzles, cooking and camping, as well as RV traveling and was a jack of all trades for home repairs. He was an avid computer buff and owned an Apple personal computer when they were first introduced on the market; he programmed simple computer games for his family. After retirement, Rich and Pat were campground attendants for the Army Corps of Engineers for 14 summers. He never met a stranger and could talk to anyone on any subject matter.

Mr. Colbert was predeceased by his son, Richard Thomas III and nine of his 11 siblings: sisters, Bernice Gittens, Dorothy Davidson, Ellen Springfield, Mary Lynn Macomber and brothers, Julian, Joseph, Vincent, Anthony and John.

Mr. Colbert is survived by his beloved wife, Pat; siblings, Donald (Claire) of Voorhees, NJ and Kathleen "Mickey" Botcher (Fred) of Walkill, NY; children, Donald Douglas (Terry Lee) of Lugoff, Patricia "Trisha" Cely (Patrick) of Columbia, and Stephen Anthony "Stony" of Hanahan; 10 grandchildren, Kristina Edge (Dale) of GA, Justina Seaks (David) of CO, Ricardo Colbert (JaLecia), Elizabeth Colbert, Annaline Bethany Cely, Mary Frances Cely, Patricia Rose Cely Dolbashian (Cory), and Samantha Colbert Cely (intended Milap Patel), all of Columbia, Patrick Anthony Colbert (Lynette) and Mohammad Ali Mallah (Jasmine) of Ladson; 13 great-grandchildren, Richard Douglas Edge, Sebastian Colbert, Zachary, Axel and Izabella Seaks, Ariana, JaLen, and Dwayne Colbert, TJ Powell, Haley and Emily Gonzalez and Shaylyn Wyrick, Ali Mullah; three great-great-grandchildren, Anastasia, Daiselynn and Daylin Colbert; sisters-in-law, Eleanor K. Jones, Violet K. Keene, and Nona C. Passarello and so many loving nephews and nieces.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2021 in Carolina Memorial Park Cemetery in North Charleston. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.