Richard Earl Frazier

Richard ("Rick") Earl Frazier, Sr. died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on December 19, 2022, at the age of 76, following a lengthy battle with leukemia. Rick was born in Oklahoma City on September 25, 1946, the third of four sons to Leo Marvin Frazier and Ella Minnie (Pahlke) Frazier. Rick spent his early years with his brothers Robert, Don and Fred exploring the outdoors at their home on Hisel Road and otherwise creating collective mischief. He developed a close relationship with them that he maintained throughout to his final days.
After graduating from Del City High School, Rick earned a bachelors and then a masters degree in education, both from Central State University.
Rick spent his career in education, beginning as a second grade teacher for more than a dozen years at Traub Elementary School, a job that he loved and found rewarding. Post teaching he transitioned into school administration serving in increasing roles over time for the Mid Del School District, capping a career dedicated to enhancing the lives of future generations.
Rick married the love of his life Barbara Ann Harbert in 1966, the inception of a 56-year union. The pair carved out a rich life and a lifelong partnership of love and support which included raising three sons. After spending the past 5 years in Connecticut to be closer to grandchildren, they returned home earlier this year to their native and beloved Oklahoma.
Rick had a deep and abiding Christian faith. He believed in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and embodied that creed through many acts of service and devotion, including in his commitment to the church community and time spent in prayer. Rick personified his faith through an endearing warmth and kindness, a trait readily apparent to both friends and first-time acquaintances. His belief also inspired a love of God's creation; he could sit for hours admiring a beautiful snowfall and took advantage of every opportunity to witness a sunset or birds coming in and out of view from his porch.
Rick was defined by a dedication to family. Rick's offspring never had reason to doubt the degree of love and support he was willing to invest in them, whether spending time together watching games, doing joint projects big and small, or offering advice that was always underpinned by a fundamental optimism and can-do attitude. Rick was "all in" with his dedication to grandkids, investing prodigious time and energy when with them and then spending hours reminiscing over photo memories when away from them. Among his grandkids and apparent even to some outside the family who witnessed him in action, "Pee-Paw" as he was called was recognized as a world-class grandparent. He will be missed.
Rick is survived by his wife Barbara, his 3 sons and 8 grandchildren, including Tom Frazier, his wife Susan and children Wesley, Owen, Tommy and Katie; Rich Frazier, his wife Cynthia and daughter Lauren; and Tim Frazier, his wife Alison and children Ben, Luke and Savannah.
A memorial service will be held at Choctaw Church of the Nazarene at 1100 Harper Street on Tuesday January 3, 2023, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at givenow.lls.org.