Dr. Richard Owen Petty

Dr. Richard Owen Petty, son to Dr. Russell B. and Lucille O. Petty, passed away peacefully in company of family members and close friends returning to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father on June 30, 2015.

Richard graduated from Ogden High School in 1960. During his days at Ogden High, he was an officer and member of the golf team and graduated from Ogden High School’s LDS Seminary.

He worked for Hughes Market and did some drag racing down Washington Blvd. Following high school, Richard served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Central British Mission from 1961-1963.

Richard returned home from his mission and married his sweetheart Joan Clarke in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in 1965. Richard and Joan attended Weber State College together where Richard was a member of Excelsior Club.

Richard then attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He was then accepted into a dental internship for a year at Michael Reese Hospital. Richard and Joan returned to Ogden, Utah, in 1971 where they started their family and Richard established a dental practice.

Richard was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many service roles and leadership position within his faith including service as a bishop, high councilman, high priest group leader and a home teacher. Richard had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ as his Savior and the gospel that was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Richard honored his priesthood throughout his life.

Richard’s service was not only limited to his faith but also in the community of Ogden - A community that Richard loved with all of his heart. Richard was a founding member and also served as president of the Ogden Breakfast Exchange Club, a civic club serving the community needs of Ogden.

In an effort to serve the business community, Richard served as the President of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce as well as the President of the Ogden School Foundation. Richard also served on the advisory board for the Dumke College of Dental Hygiene at Weber State University, as well as serving on the dental advisory board of the Lantern House, a homeless shelter, located in the Ogden area.

Richard’s dental practice thrived for 41 years and his professional career as a dentist was filled with honors and awards but more valuable to him than any award was the loyalty of his patients. Richard loved his staff and patients. He was an artist in the dental world and looked at every patient as an opportunity to improve someone’s life. Richard drove the streets of Ogden with his IDIGDK license plate and was known by all as “Painless Petty.”

Richard established the dental clinic in San Blas, Mexico, with Liga International. Richard traveled to serve the people of Mexico for more than 10 years flying down twice a year to work in extremely harsh medical conditions to provide relief to people that he cared for deeply. He also went to Jamaica to do volunteer dental work for the people there.

Richard was a past president of the Weber County Dental Association as well as serving as president of the Utah State Dental Association. Richard was a fellow of the International College of Dentists and a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He was also a member of the American Association of Dental consultants and worked for DMBA Insurance later in his career.

Richard spent every summer of his youth in Whitefish where the Petty family had a cabin on the lake. His days were filled with water skiing, golf and late-night pranks with his buddies. Richard continued to take his family and friends to Whitefish every summer making it a heaven on earth for him.

Richard also found great joy spending time on his houseboat in Lake Powell, Utah, where he constantly treated family and friends to amazing vacation time. He was always the head cook and his food was fantastic. His favorite meal to fix was breakfast. The last several years he has enjoyed his home in St. George and sharing it also with family and friends.

Richard loved the game of golf and had an extraordinary talent for the game. He had a hole-in-one during his days of play and his love of this great game led him to the Ogden Golf and Country Club, where he served on the Country Club Board and also served as President of the Club. Richard and Joan Petty co-founded the “Open Wide Open” golf tournament at the OGCC.

Richard is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan; his children, Mike, LeighAnn Peterson (James), Karen Miyasaki (Brian), and Scott (Angie). His 12 grandchildren who he loved so much, Abby, Harrison, Josh, Zack, Sophia, Madlyn, Jack, Emi, Tori, Ian, Tad, and Quintin. and his siblings, Elma Ray, Carolyn Strong, Joanne Smith (Ray), Louise Crowley (Bob) and Loraine Pallo (Jim), his brother-in-law, John Clarke and sister-in-law, Janice Clarke. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Dr. Robert Petty; sister, Ruth Wright; and brothers-in-law, Darrell Ray and Robert Strong.

Funeral services were held July 7 at the Country Hill Ward in Ogden.

The Petty Family would like to thank Richard’s doctors and caregivers for the compassionate service that they provided (Dr. Stephen Bruce, Dr. John Lowe, friend Dr. Val Johnson and the staff of Manor Care).

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Petty Scholarship at Weber State University Dental Hygiene Dept. or the Ogden School Foundation.

Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com.