Richard Carlson

Richard A. (Dick) Carlson went on to greater life on a summer night, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. He was seventy-seven years old. Dick was born on August 11, 1946 in Morris, Illinois. His was a nearly idyllic childhood, where he grew up in a loving family and among many cousins who were his closest friends. As a young man, Dick worked after school, closely beside his father, in the family’s business—a photography studio. Dick also had a talent for radio and worked as a disc-jockey, broadcasting the latest hits to nearby farming communities.

For college, Dick moved to sunny Fort Worth, Texas, where he studied radio and television broadcasting at Texas Christian University. Dick stayed on the airwaves while at TCU as a sports play-by-play announcer. (He remained Horned Frogs fan all of his life.) More importantly while in college, he met and fell in love with a stunning TCU cheerleader, Alicia Golsan. The two married shortly after graduation, and for over fifty years, lived happily ever after.

When Dick and Alicia began their family together, Dick began a thirty-year career in sales with the Hormel Foods Co. His professional life—most of it in Alabama—was marked by his positive attitude, his cheerful disposition, and his innate ability to treat people well. Meanwhile, Dick and Alicia had two sons, Jeremy and Nathan, whom they raised in a loving and exceedingly happy home. Upon retirement, Dick and Alicia built a small farm in Chilton County, Alabama, where they kept a myriad of farm animals—all of which were named and treated as pets. They also became the finest (and most entertaining) grandparents of all time.

Above all else, Dick was a man of deep and abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. His life was wholly filled with the love of God and animated by God’s Holy Spirit. He loved the Church and he loved people. Dick was an adoring, devoted husband and he’d be the first to tell you that happiness is being married to your best friend. Dick was also the best father that two sons could ever have. His sons invariably knew—and still do—that their dad always loved them and was always proud of them. Finally, he was the consummate grandfather who—retaining the heart of a child—always made the most heaping of ice cream sundaes.

Waiting on this side of Glory are Dick’s wife, Alicia; his sons Jeremy (Laura) Carlson, and Nathan (Leslie) Carlson; grandchildren, Ann Wright Carlson, Alice Carlson, Gabriel Carlson, and Gideon Carlson; sister, Janet (David) Hixenbaugh; brother-in-law, Roy (Pamela) Golsan; nephews, Roy Golsan, Jr., and Rhett (Mary) Golsan; niece, Kristin Hixenbaugh; and many cousins. Dick’s parents were William L. Carlson and Ethel Svendsen Carlson.

A liturgy celebrating Dick’s life will take place at St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church on Tuesday, June 25th at 2:00 p.m. The family will greet visitors afterward. Memorials in honor of Dick’s life may be made to the Brother Bryan Mission, P.O. Box 11254, Birmingham, Alabama, 35202.

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205.879.3401) in Homewood.