Richard Weakley Ince, Jr.

Dick was born in Memphis, TN, to Kathrina Penn Ince and Richard W. Ince, Sr. He moved to Texas at an early age, and grew up in Hillsboro, TX. He had a lifelong love of Texas, Texas BBQ, and the Texas Longhorns.

Dick attended the University of Texas in Austin and joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, where he was a popular piano player at parties. He studied Chemical Engineering, graduated in 1960 and later went on to get a Masters in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

While in school he had a summer internship with Sun Oil Company, and ended up staying with them for 32 years until his retirement in 1991. During his time with Sun, he had several different career paths. After starting in the chemical engineering lab in Dallas and obtaining his MBA, he transferred to the home office in Philadelphia where he became part of the long-range planning team. The company pursued an interest in energy minerals, and Dick was chosen to lead the search for a coal company to become part of Sun’s business interests. He found an outstanding coal company in Knoxville, TN, Elk River Resources, and the owner – philanthropist B. Ray Thompson, Sr. – agreed to join Sun and Elk River to become Sun Coal Company. Toward the close of his career with Sun he was named Executive Vice President, reporting to Robert McClements, CEO. He retired and the family moved back to Knoxville in 1991.

After retirement from Sun Company Dick was nominated for and received an Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding accomplishments in their chosen field from Delta Tau Delta fraternity. At the time of his award it had been presented to only 132 Delts since it’s establishment.

Dick also became active in community service in Knoxville, including building committees and finances with Cokesbury United Methodist church, teaching independent living skills and mentoring young women with his wife Ann through the Florence Crittendon agency, and indulging his love of music with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.

As accomplished as he was in his work life, Dick’s great joy in life was his family and friends. In 1963 he married Ann Stubblefield, the great love of his life. They shared 62 years of marriage and the union led to two much-loved children: Laura Jean Buckley (husband Vince) and Steven Marcus Ince (wife Janice). He dearly loved his 5 granddaughters (aka “a girls basketball team”): Katrina and Amanda Buckley, Audrey Ince, and Maddie and Charlotte Ince

Services will be held Friday June 5, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, South Campus, 9908 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37922. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to Cokesbury’s Susannah’s House or a charity of your choice.