Richard grew up in the Princeton, MO area. The early years of his life were spent on the family farm where he learned the importance of having a good work ethic. He often spoke of his time living with Aunt Annie and Uncle Cliff on their farm. His time there gifted him great memories that he cherished for the rest of life. After graduating from Grandview High School, he continued his education at Oklahoma Bible College, which later became Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College and is now Randall University. Richard became licensed to preach on November 15, 1968, and ordained as a minister on September 5, 1970. In 1988, Richard joined the staff at Hillsdale College, working in administration. In 2002, Richard attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity Degree on December 9, 2005. While attending seminary, he specifically chose the hardest professors and classes, simply to enjoy the challenge. Throughout his ministry, he pastored churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Richard was highly respected and loved by each of his congregations. He enjoyed his calling and loved to preach the word of God as often as he could. Richard was one that genuinely loved life. His adventurous/ colorful background led him to enjoy many hobbies such as bass fishing, piloting airplanes, hunting, riding motorcycles and doing woodwork, just to name a few. He found great happiness teaching his grandchildren “dumb” songs that they will forever remember, as well as taking trips to museums with his granddaughter. Richard loved spending time with his family, especially camping trips to the lake. Those lake trips often included his ski boat, which always broke down. Survivors include his wife, Thelma; three sons, Richard “Dick” Terry and wife Teresia of Sulphur, Michael Terry of Sulphur, and Stephen Terry of Oklahoma City; two grandchildren, Mattie Wesley and husband Nathon and Jett Terry; sister-in-law, Elsie Costigan of Wagoner; nieces, Casey Wineland and husband Anthony, Shelley LaGrand and Shelia Bergner; and nephew Brandon Flores and wife Ashley.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Loren Richard and Nancy (Gentry) Terry; two brothers, Tommy and Johnny Boyd; and his in-laws, Carl and Bella Haws.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Sulphur, with Reverend Cory Thompson officiating. Interment will follow– at 2:00 p.m., at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, in Norman.

Services are entrusted to Hale’s Funeral Home of Sulphur.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.