Richard Andrew Staat

Richard ‘Dick’ Andrew Staat, 92 of Southport, NC, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025. He was born in Spokane, Washington on January 26, 1933 to Isabel Lydia Lentz Staat and Frederick Francis Staat. He was the 2nd to the oldest of four brothers: Norman, Dick, John and David.

His father was in the Forest Service and was transferred to different locations. Because of this Richard enjoyed many adventures living in different parts of the U.S. and learned to make great friends wherever he lived. He also learned to ice skate, ski and worked in the Idaho Forests in High School as a volunteer.

He was an army veteran of the Korean War.

When living in Ohio he meant JoAnn Ruth Clark on a blind date and that resulted in a marriage of 72 years and three children.

He enjoyed many hobbies with his wife: running, sailing and ballroom dancing. In fact, among his dancing friends he was known as the ‘polka king’. He made furniture and enjoyed wood-working. He had a cleverness and skill about how to repair and promote a functional living space. Even in his 90s, he pulled up his kitchen floor and put new flooring down! He was not afraid to tell you the truth.

He graduated from Ohio State University with a BFA, working as a commercial artist for 35 years and then operating his own design studio for 14 years. Later in life, he got interested in watercolors and the wide-open fun and free creative expression it allowed him as an artist.

He was quite skilled at working with transparent watercolors and was known throughout the area for projecting humor and emotion in his paintings. He was known to say, “don’t use white!”

He (along with his wife, JoAnn) spent countless hours promoting, volunteering and encouraging others in the arts in Brunswick County.

He was a member of the Oak Island Evangelical Presbyterian Church, past president of the Oak Island Art Guild, a member of the Brunswick Arts Council. A member of Brushworks, Central Ohio Watercolor Society. He was shooting to be a Master in the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and at his death, was one painting shy of his goal. In the last years of his life, the highlight of his week was going to his Tuesday art class at Franklin Square Gallery and visiting with his good friends.

He looked forward to and enjoyed visits with family. He loved it when his Grandson Jordan would visit and bring him Chinese food. He loved a party and enjoyed eating grits, sweet breads in the morning and listening to his light classical music on his TV, especially Bach!

He always said, “you’ve got to have a project”, a task to accomplish each day.

He was pre-deceased in death by his wife, JoAnn Ruth Clark Staat; son, William Staat; parents, Andy and Isabel Staat; Mother and Father-in-law, William Clark and Florence Lavina Nisley Clark; brothers, Norman (Joan) and John Staat; niece, Haven Clark Shelton; and brother-in-law, Willam Clark (Emily).

He is survived by his daughter, Gloria Staat (Steven Fair); son, Drew Staat (Debbie); daughter-in-law, Rosemarie Staat; grandsons, Zac Staat of Gainesville, Florida and Jordan Staat of Southport; niece, Sally Biby; nephew William Brent Clark and grandchildren and children of the heart; Melinda, Chris, Katie and Stetson Zimmer.

The family would like to express appreciations and gratitude for God’s Grace manifested through the caring hands and kindnesses of his healthcare team at Novant Hospital Brunswick, Lower Cape Fear Life Care; Terra Bella Southport, his arts communities, neighbors and friends. May all your generosity and kindness come back to you a millionfold.

A memorial for his life is planned for later as well as an art show and sale of his work. Proceeds will go to benefit Brunswick County Associations for the arts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to Brunswick Art Council, Oak Island Art Guild, Franklin Square Gallery, Southport Assoc. Artists, local school arts programs or another organization that promotes the arts.

You may offer online condolences to the Staat family at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com