Richard Deacon Peterson's Obituary
Richard Deacon Peterson, age 83, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 13, 2026. He was at home in Cornelius, North Carolina, surrounded by family holding his hands.
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 12, 1943, to Jean Drinker Peterson and Charles Henry Peterson. He grew up with his older siblings, Judith "Judy" Peterson Lees and Henry "Punch" Barritt Peterson, who always looked out for their little brother "Ritchie."
Richard grew up in Roland Park and attended St. Paul's School in Brooklandville, where he fell in love with lacrosse as a short-stick midfielder. He went on to the University of Virginia, where he was lacrosse team captain and an All-American. Richard loved UVA and was a diehard fan for life.
After graduating, he moved to San Antonio, Texas and worked as a salesman for Black & Decker. In 1968, he met his soulmate, Ricka Van Lente when she was a flight attendant on his flight. They married nine months later, and had two daughters, Cari and Julie. In 1972, they moved back to Maryland, where they would live in their house on Pickett Road in Lutherville for the next 43 years. Richard later worked as a stockbroker for Alex. Brown & Sons and as a property manager, but nothing brought him more joy than the 16 years he spent teaching English and history and coaching lacrosse at his alma mater, St. Paul's School.
Richard loved children — as a teacher, coach, summer camp director in Vermont, and church youth group leader. He especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was known for his funny stories, silliness, and crazy costumes. He loved to make people laugh and kept his sense of humor, even as his health declined.
Richard stayed active his whole life and was a great athlete. Even after retiring his lacrosse stick, he enjoyed golfing, running marathons, biking, and riding waves at the beach in Cape May, New Jersey — and he was fiercely competitive at everything, from Gin Rummy to shuffleboard.
Richard loved God, and he and Ricka shared a deep faith. Whether at Timonium United Methodist or Grace Covenant churches, they were involved in Bible studies and house church, creating friendships and a foundation for their entire lives. Richard lived out his faith through service — as a Big Brother, a counselor in a correctional center, and a team leader for the Appalachia Service Project. He loved being outside in God's creation, seeing His hand in every flower, hummingbird, and passing cloud, and Richard’s vivid imagination brought a sense of wonder to it all.
Richard never met a stranger. He was kind and gentle, quick to learn people's life stories and invite them home for dinner, always telling them to have a blessed day. Many knew him for Uncle Doty's Apple Toddy, a family recipe he made for more than 50 years and gifted to neighbors, doctors, the mailman, even the grocery store checkout clerk.
Whether they called him Richard, Dick, Ritchie, Uncle Ritchie, Mr. Pete, coach, Pop Pop, or dad, he was loved by all and like a father to many. He and Ricka never hesitated to take people in, lend out his blue VW Beetle or let someone live in their basement for months at a time. He poured himself into his relationships, known for the countless phone calls he made to friends and family.
Richard dearly loved his two daughters, "his girls," and no one meant more to him than Ricka, who stood by his side and cared for him until his last day. Even as Lewy body dementia stole so much from him, their love endured — they held hands, shared "huggies," and danced, even in his final weeks.
Richard is survived by his devoted wife of more than 58 years, Ricka; daughters Cari (husband Mark) and Julie; grandchildren Jordan, Mia, Grace, and Max; Jordan’s husband, David; great-granddaughters, Charlotte and Eloise; sister, Judy Lees; seven nieces and two nephews; and grand puppies, Molly and Suki.
A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, North Carolina, on July 25, 2026, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a lunch reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://Samaritanspurse.org, Compassion International at https://compassion.com, or the Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://lbda.org/donate-to-research.
James Funeral Home is serving the Peterson family. Memories and condolences may be shared at https://www.JamesFuneralHomeLKN.com
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