Richard Oakley Coar

Richard Coar passed away peacefully at St. Michael Hospital on March 19, 2026, at the age of 93. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.

Born in Los Angeles on November 6, 1932, the second child of Edson and Muriel Coar, the family lived in several locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco before moving to Lake Forest Park in north Seattle, where Richard attended and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Richard then attended and graduated from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, the beginning of a lifelong love of the Huskies.

While attending university, he met Susan Perrott on a blind date at a Rainiers’ baseball game in April 1955. Susan knew immediately that she had met her future husband. They were engaged on Richard’s birthday in 1955 and married on February 18, 1956, at University Lutheran Church.

After graduation from university, Richard served 2 years in the Navy at the naval base in San Diego. Honorably discharged at the rank of 3rd class Petty Officer Pharmacist Mate. During this time, Richard and Susan’s first child, Alan, was born.

Upon returning to Seattle, they established their home, followed by the birth of three more children, Kenneth, and twins Kathy and Peggy.

Richard’s employment as a pharmacist included time at L.D. Bracken in Seattle, Kirk’s Pharmacy in Burien, and a long tenure at Ostrom Drug in Kenmore. Drafted to concoct a special remedy, Richard raced downtown at midnight with a big pill to help ease the suffering of captive orca, Namu. After moving to Kingston, he worked at Appletree Cove Pharmacy, ultimately retiring from Rite Aid on Bainbridge Island.

Dick and family attended University Lutheran church for many years, where he served in different positions on the board, along with ushering and fundraising.

Loving their new life on Appletree Cove, Sue & Dick were welcomed at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island, where many new friendships enriched their retirement years.

Richard loved sports, enjoying the Huskies and attending Mariners' and Seahawks' games as a season ticket holder with his good friend, Jim. His children enjoyed many of those games with him.

In the pandemic year of 2020, Richard married Mary Toepel, standing on the back of a pick-up truck in the Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot as the service was broadcast to the attendees over their car radios. The couple was blessed with a rainbow, which appeared just as they said their vows.

A member of Alpha Delta Phi, LaFayette Lodge 241, and the Navy League, he volunteered for the Friends of the Library in Kingston, serving as the  Treasurer for 20 years. His generosity supported many organizations, including the University of Washington, the USC Graduate School of Pharmacy, the Kingston Village Green community complex, the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, and productions of the Pt. Gamble Theater’s Roving Players.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents Edson and Muriel Coar, sister Elaine Cochran, his wife of 54 years, Susan, and daughter Peggy.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, his three children, Alan, Kenneth, and Kathleen (Bob), Mary’s children, Stephen (Cindi), Camy, Michael (Teresa), and Jim (Lisa), 17 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on April 11 at 1:00 pm, at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to a favorite charity.