Richard Olaf Petch

Richard Petch, 85, of Ash, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family and the comfort of the land he cherished.
Born on January 16, 1940, in Caterham, England, Richard's journey was a remarkable one from the very beginning. At just nine years old, he crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary with his family to begin a new life in the United States. This was a bold and defining step that would set the tone for the decades of quiet courage and steady dedication that followed.
Richard pursued a degree in forestry at Duke University, a field that perfectly captured his lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. Richard found his greatest joy in the simple, honest work of his hands. Whether riding his tractor through the fields, baling hay beneath the Carolina sun, or shaping wood in his workshop, he poured quiet care and precision into everything he did. A gifted carpenter, he built homes and crafted pieces that blended function with beauty. As a respected hay farmer and skilled farrier, he also dedicated himself to the care and training of horses, sharing his knowledge through boarding, lessons, and equestrian instruction that shaped generations of riders. These were not just jobs to Richard-they were passions, reflections of his deep connection to nature and his desire to share it with others.
Richard treated his neighbors and friends like family, offering his time, strength, and resources without ever expecting anything in return. His generosity wasn't just financial, though many quietly benefited from his support of local schools, students, and community programs; it was deeply personal. He would show up early to help mend a fence, stay late to finish someone else's harvest, or lend a hand wherever it was needed most. He led by example, showing what it meant to live with integrity, humility, and heart. In his presence, people felt steadier and stronger - simply because he was there. Richard didn't need recognition; he simply believed in doing good, and he did it every single day.
He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Allan and Elsa; his brothers, Robert and John; and his first wife of 50 years, Lynn, with whom he shared a life of dedication, faith, and hard work. He is survived by his sisters Helen, Kristin, and Pam, and his brother Peter (Ruth) and nieces and nephews.
After Lynn's passing, Richard found love again with Susan, with whom he was married to for nearly 16 years, and they shared the final beautiful chapter of his life. In marrying Susan, Richard didn't just gain a wife, he embraced an entire family. He stepped into the role of father and Pa-Pa to Susan's five children: Timi Emmons, Mendi (Todd) Frame, Sherri Triplett, Brian (Denise) Chase, Stephen (Lana) Chase and their children Maddi, Garrett, Jeremy, Joshua, Evan, Jackson, Michael, Kelsey, Stephanie, Christopher, Mackenzi, Riley, Wyatt, Miah, and great grandchildren Jake, Maverick, Charlie, Memphis, Canyon, Meadow, Madalee with a full and open heart. To them, he wasn't a stepfather or step-grandfather. He was the father who stepped up. He was a steady hand, a kind voice, a teacher, and above all, a beloved patriarch. His impact on their lives cannot be measured, only deeply felt.
Richard was a good and decent man who lived a life of honor and productivity and that is worth more than all the gold in the world. He leaves behind a legacy not only in the barns he built or the fences he mended, but in the lives that he touched gently, humbly, and without need for recognition.
The service will be held at Brunswick Funeral Home in Shallotte on August 9. The visitation will be held at 1pm and the service at 2pm. His family will host a private celebration of life service at a later date to honor Richard's memory in a way he would have loved: surrounded by nature, laughter, and stories shared among those who knew him best.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that acts of kindness be paid forward in Richard's memory such as planting a tree or donating to the Coastal Cancer Center or simply living by the example he set.
Richard is now reunited with his parents, his brothers, and old friends who welcomed him home. He will be deeply missed, but his example lives on in all who knew him. He set the standard for what it means to live with kindness, strength, and quiet excellence. We are better for having known him, and we carry his legacy forward in the way we live, love, and serve others.