Richard L. Obenschain

My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Obie's family and friends. He and I were fraternity brothers at Lenoir-Rhyne College. He was much loved by all of our brothers. He had something special in the way he dealt with people. Sadly, we didn't talk much about faith back then, but the light of Christ was definitely shining through in Rich's life. May God hold each of you close in these trying times. Heaven is enriched by his presence, just as he enriched all of our lives on earth.

Obie was my friend and roommate at Lenoir Rhyne College around 1970. Although I had not seen him since College, I have many fond memories of him as a person and of the many activities we shared together. There was no outdoor activity that Obie was not an expert at, and he was an excellent athlete also. I never met any person that did not like him, he was just too good a person to ever have a conflict with and he would do anything for any person, friend or stranger. He was one of those few...

Though I didn't know Rich personally, I would see him here and there while outback of Gordon while in discovery - there was always something comforting about him. I will always remember my time and the people of discovery my freshman year. And so I'm forever thankful for Rich and those times - grateful that Rich partnered with God and built La Vida.

I'm so sorry to hear this. My memories of Rich are of a kind and patient teacher. I often think about the canoe class he taught with a trip down the Ipswich River into the Atlantic and of course, LaVida. May God rest his soul.

Dear Katherine, the Hungarians have a saying: one eye cries, while the other smiles. I normally would write one eye cries for your loss/our loss, but the other smiles to think of where Rich is, and WHO he is with. But my 2nd eye has not come around to smiling just yet. I trust it will. I trust & pray yours will, too. Someday.

Brad Baker

Katherine - so sorry for this loss and my deepest sympathy to you and Tess and Hunter and the rest of the family. I really missed those days of seeing Rich at Gordon and playing pick up basketball with him and just chatting with him as well as our Bible study times and church times together after I moved to Connecticut. He is one of the greatest men I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I'm so sorry he is gone. Sending my love and prayers in this difficult time. Doug Lindland