Richard D Tyree

The Rev. Richard Douglas Tyree was born January 9, 1925 in a two-room cottage on a property at Lynch Station, Virginia, not far from Altavista. Later his family moved to a larger home on the same property, called “Oakgrove”, owned by his family for 275 years. This is where he was raised by his parents, Charles Terrell Tyree and Anne Waugh Tyree, along with a younger brother, Terrell, and an older sister, Anne Minor.

Richard, usually referred to as Dick, graduated from Virginia Episcopal School in 1942. During WWII he joined the US Army, as required, primarily serving in the Philippines. Later he graduated from Virginia Tech in 1946, and worked for 10 years in his father’s retail furniture business in Altavista.

In 1951 Dick married Frances Bland Saunders of Campbell County, with whom he had three children. Feeling a “call” to Christian ministry in 1958, Dick moved his young family to live near two small churches, St. Peter’s, Callaway, in Franklin County, and St. John’s, Ferrum, where he was lay minister-in-charge on Sundays while attending Virginia Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary, graduating in 1961. After seminary, Dick became vicar of Trinity, Arrington, and Grace Church, Massey’s Mill, where in due time he was ordained into the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. While rector of Grace Memorial Church, Lynchburg, from 1964 to 1969, he was involved in civil rights issues, and the only white pastor invited to join with the Afro-American clergy who gathered when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was murdered.

In 1969 the Rt. Rev. William H. Marmion invited Dick to serve as Archdeacon and administrative assistant for the Diocese of Southwestern, VA –a position he held for 10 years. In a Diocesan Newsletter, Bishop Marmion described Dick’s work as a success, and said that he was “…unflappable, consistent, fair” in all things –a support and friend to him as Bishop and to the priests of the Diocese. He also served on the boards of Westminster Canterbury, from inception to opening, and the Boys’ Home, Covington, seeing it through integration, and oversaw Hemlock Haven, the Diocesan camp. When Bishop Marmion retired and Bishop Heath Light replaced him, the Ven. Mr. Tyree remained as Archdeacon.

In 1980 Dick married Linda Jean Eggleston of Rochester, NY, acquiring three step-children. Three years later, Dick resigned as Archdeacon to teach, along with his wife, at St. John’s School of Mission, a 3-year training program for Anglican ordination, on Lake Victoria in Kenya. In his 60s, and dripping in sweat while living so close to the equator, he’d often say “God saved the best until last!”. Though reluctant to leave the work they loved, Dick and Linda returned to the US after 8 years due to health complications.

Though officially retired, Dick moved with Linda to Navajoland in Utah, where she worked for three years in ministry development under Bishop Steven Plummer, a Navajo himself, and head of the Episcopal Diocesan Mission on the reservation. Dick assisted the Bishop as a volunteer, and just as in Kenya, devoured the local culture and natural landscape, from sheep shearing to tribal gatherings and ceremonies.

After Linda’s health deteriorated further, they landed at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg in 2004, where they truly enjoyed life refreshed. In 2015 Dick was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. He died quietly on Wednesday evening, June 29, 2016, with Linda by his side. Caretakers and friends consistently commented on his kindness, and especially his sweetness. Linda insists that marrying Dick 36 years ago, this month, was the very best thing she ever did.

Dick, 91, is survived by his wife, Linda, and his three children, and three step-children, and their families, including two grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter: Frances Bland Tyree and her husband Coleman of Richmond, Virginia; Richard Douglas Tyree Jr. of Roanoke, Virginia, and his son Joseph Douglas, presently in the military, and his wife Kacey, and their daughter Aria Rose; and Charles Fleming Tyree and his wife Diane of Roanoke, Virginia, and their son Samuel; Naomi Mary Tinklepaugh and her husband David, and their children, Leah, Benjamin, Ilana and Jacob of Singapore; Luke John Tinklepaugh and his wife Carol of Florida, and their son Michael of Washington, D.C.; and Abraham Jude Tinklepaugh and his wife Carrie of Utah.

A funeral ceremony to celebrate Dick’s joining his Savior and God, will be at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 200 Boston Ave, Lynchburg, 24503, Monday, July 11, 2016, 11am. A reception will follow, to which all are welcome. His ashes will be buried in a family cemetery at Oakgrove prior to the service.

Memorial gifts may be given to St. John’s for a youth mission project.