James “Richard” Fitzgerald was born November 29, 1948 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to James Everett and Ernestine Fitzgerald.  He passed away peacefully on February 9, 2024 in Arizona. Richard lived in Tonkawa, Oklahoma until third grade when he moved to Oklahoma City.  He enjoyed playing baseball especially when his team won the state championship when he was 11. Richard left John Marshall High School his junior year and moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma. He had fun playing on the football team and made many lifelong friends at PoHi. After graduating Ponca City High School in 1967 he headed to the University of Oklahoma.  He pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon and still has a strong friendship with many of his pledge brothers.  

He married Susan Quinn in May of 1969.  Richard graduated May, 1971 with an OU diploma and an Army commission.  Moving to Augusta, GA for Officers Basic was the first of many moves out of Oklahoma for Richard and Susan.  They lived at Ft. Meade, MD for the three years he was in the Army.  Upon completion of his military service he accepted a position in the Continental Pipeline Management development program.  He worked many different jobs in many different places throughout his 28 year career with Conoco Oil Company.  In Transportation he was truck safety coordinator and ran trucks. He also worked in Pipeline and NGP.  In 1983 they moved back to Oklahoma where he worked as a dealer propane coordinator.  Richard was then transferred to Denver to work in the alternative fuel program.  Working a special project to look at acquisitions led him to the job of marketing propane from the refineries. His family lived in Houston three times, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Edmond, OK and Denver twice.  After retiring from Conoco, he worked for Centennial Gas for two years.  At the age of 56 he left the working world for Ponca City, Oklahoma.  There he loved his regular tee time with his golf buddies. His passion was golf and he was blessed to get to play many different courses throughout the world. Richard enjoyed the outdoors. He especially liked being in Colorado at their cabin where he could hike, ski, bike or just sit and read. Another love was traveling.  Richard and Susan visited all 50 states, most of Canada and Europe along with several visits to Mexico.

Richard enjoyed watching all his sons’ sports and activities.  He coached soccer with the soccer rule book in his hand as the sport was new to him. Richard served on HOA boards, church committees, and sport boards in various cities in a variety of roles.  He enjoyed watching sports, cheering his beloved Sooners (and Oklahoma State if they weren’t in competition with OU), socializing and spending time with friends.  In 2018 he and Susan moved to Maricopa, AZ to enjoy the winter weather and all the activities an over 55 neighborhood offers. He became an avid pickleball fan. Wherever he lived he befriended many wonderful, fun people.

Richard is survived by his wife of 54 years Susan;  their three sons and wives: Chad and Jackie of Washington DC, Ryan and Kathleen of Denver CO, and Luke and Angelina of Steamboat Springs CO; two granddaughters: Kayla of Charleston, SC and Rylee of Dacula, GA.  He is also survived by his sister Jane Haney of Wimauma, FL and Susan’s brother Tom Quinn and wife Nancy of Davenport, FL and sister Nancy Quinn of Oklahoma City.  He is preceded in death by his father, mother, stepmother Barbara and in-laws John and Frances Quinn. A memorial service will be held February 23 at 11:00 at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, Chandler, AZ. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 at the Province Clubhouse in Maricopa, Arizona.

The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley for the care he received in his last days.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church or to a veteran foundation such as Wounded Warriors. Church and veterans were important to Richard.  

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