Richard Lee Slover

Richard Lee Slover, 95,  went to be with his heavenly Father on Good Friday, April 18, 2025 in Bend, Oregon. 

He was born on April 14, 1930 to Gladys and Henry Clay Slover in Des Plaines, Illinois. He graduated from high school in Dunellen, New Jersey, where he was a member of his high school swim team.They later moved to Plainfield, New Jersey.

Dick graduated from Purdue University in 1952 with a degree in Chemistry. He later received his Masters in Business from Pepperdine University. 

In 1954, while serving in the army, Dick was stationed in Tehran,Iran, where he met and married Darina, his wife of 71 years.. 

Upon being discharged from the army they settled in Plainfield, New Jersey. Over the next 5 years their four children, Patti, Susan, Janet and Peter, were born. 

Dick worked for Allied Chemical from 1954 through 1973. He and his family moved to Morristown, NJ in 1963. During this time he was actively involved in Power Squadron, and was very active in the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, where he especially enjoyed singing in the choir. 

In 1973 Dick changed companies to work for Merichem, a Houston-based company, which led to a big move in 1975 from New Jersey to Houston, where they lived for 50 years. 

While living in Houston Dick enjoyed working on his 1963 Austin Healy. A trip to Houston by any  of his children or grandchildren was not complete without a ride in the Healy! Dick also enjoyed singing in barbershop groups, entertaining many people over the years. He was still very involved with his church, serving as an elder and singing in the choir.

Dick left Merichem in 1979, and started The Slover Group, which allowed him the opportunity to travel all over the world. He  took pride with the work that he accomplished in Japan, breaking into  the tight business culture that existed there. Other ventures also occurred that became family lore, such as trying out donut recipes at home to possibly sell in South America. 

Of all the accomplishments that he had throughout his life, his proudest was the closeness of  his four children, 17 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren and the ties that exist between them, all united by their memories of family reunions in Sunriver with cribbage tournaments and mornings with “messy” donuts where the only rule was “no rules”.

Richard is survived by his wife Darina, his children Patti (Leonard) Defilippis, Ridgefield, WA, Susan (John) Gibbs, Denver, CO,  Janet (Michael) McLain, Bend, OR and Peter (Catharine) Slover,  Dripping Springs, TX, brother-in-law, Krum Wekilsky, niece, Christine Wekilsky Marchi, nephew, Eric Wekilsky,  and the many grandchildren and great grandchildren who fondly knew him as Neena, Grandpa and Gramps.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Henry Clay Slover, and his brother Bill.. 

He is buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon..

A memorial service will be held at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church, 1215 Campbell Road, Houston, TX 77055 on May 31st  at 11:00 am. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Lee Slover, please visit our floral store.