Richard H. Oris

Richard H. Oris of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away Monday, September 29, 2025, at the age of 82. He was the beloved husband of 47 years to Lynn Oris; the cherished son of the late Arthur and the late Edna Mae Oris; the devoted father of Allan Korte (Debbie), Bethany Mead (John Mead), and Mary Katherine (“Katie”) Oris; and the loving grandfather of Beatrice Mead. He was the dear brother of the late Donna Josefovic (Jim), Michael Oris (Joane), Paul Oris (Cyndy), the late Michaella Drotar, and Jeanette Naasz (the late Jerry Naasz). He was Uncle Richard to many adored nieces and great-nieces, nephews and great-nephews.

He was a proud member of the United States Army Reserves for 8 years and a supporter of Veteran groups. 

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Richard earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He began his professional career in Purchasing and Procurement at the Great Lakes iron ore shipping company Eaton, Yale & Towne. His next employment brought him to St. Louis, where he spent 37 years working for the Daughters of Charity (now Ascension) Health System. He held a deep respect for the sisters there and built long-lasting friendships with them and with his coworkers. During those years, he also pursued a graduate degree. In 1988 he received his MBA from St. Louis University.

In his off-time, Richard loved restoring and refinishing antique furniture and working with wood. He could fix anything. He adored any beach and counted down the departure days before traveling to Mexico with friends and family. He also waited with great anticipation for the beginning of the college basketball season. He had been bitten by the basketball bug in college, and he cheered on his beloved Kentucky Wildcats for the rest of his life. 

But most of all, Richard loved spending every minute with his family, doing “the good stuff”: an early morning visit to a flea market with like-minded, early-rising family members and a Thermos of coffee; a quick stop at a new thrift shop; a chaise-lounge by the pool; a big slice of pie, preferably chocolate cream, at the dining room table.

He brought a funny and relaxed energy to any situation. He was a master negotiator who took great pride in getting a better deal on everything, no matter the product or service or seller— flea market vendor, auto dealer, local Sears manager. And somehow he was able to charm people as he got the deals he wanted. 

Richard’s qualities of love, kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity will be forever remembered by everyone who had the great pleasure of knowing him.

Memorials may be sent in his name to any Veteran’s organization or the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter Catholic Church in St. Charles.

A visitation will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, 837 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters, MO, 63376, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 4-8 pm. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, at 10 am, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 221 First Capitol Drive, St. Charles, MO, 63301, in St. Charles.