Obituary of Richard Medlock, M.D.
Thomas Richard Medlock passed away on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the age of 82 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born June 6, 1940 in Ada, Oklahoma, everyone knew Richard as a warm, friendly, deeply thoughtful, generous, kind, and patient man. He loved his wife, Jean, and his entire family with all his heart. He was a devout, faithful servant of Christ. Whether he was playing with his grandchildren, organizing family gatherings, or taking care of patients, he always thought of others before himself. He had an endless fascination with history and could discuss historical subjects with uncanny knowledge and precision. He loved telling stories of his early life to his grandchildren. Church, family, brunch, golf, a nap, and the History Channel were his staple Sundays throughout his working years and retirement in Tulsa.
Richard was educated in grades 1-4 by his mother, Alpha Mae (Brazil) Medlock, and in grades 5-8 by his father, Virgil Bryan Medlock, in a one-room schoolhouse in Lawrence, Oklahoma, a rural community near Ada, Oklahoma. While living in Lawrence, Richard attended junior high and high school eight miles away in Ada. With a quirky smile and raised eyebrows, Richard would share how proud he was of “graduating valedictorian of his 8th grade class of two students.” He started Ada High School at 12 years old, with a “nagging feeling of growing up behind other people.” Richard moved on to The University of Oklahoma where he and his brother were both in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, to which he attributed much credit for his development as a student and gentleman.
Richard was in ROTC, graduating from OU in 1961, earned his M.D. from OU in 1965 as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, completed his general internal medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati in 1967, served as captain in the Army at the base in San Antonio, Texas from 1967-1969, and then completed his nephrology residency at the University of Michigan in 1972. Richard then started the first kidney transplant program in Oklahoma when he joined Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa in 1972. He later moved to St. John's Medical Center where he practiced nephrology until his retirement in 2013. Richard loved Tulsa where he lived until his death.
Richard met the love of his life, Jean Renee (Robichaux) Medlock, on a blind date to the Beta Barn Dance at OU during his first year of medical school. They got married in 1963, and their profound love ever since is known to all. Richard was passionate about the practice of medicine, taking care of others, the Brotherhood of St. Andrews, his golf buddies (more than his golf game), his colleagues, and his multiple leadership roles with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa and John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He frequently praised others with his signature phrase, “well done!” and an enthusiastic thumbs up. No better phrase and gesture could capture the legacy of the generosity, love, devotion, and servanthood of the life of Richard Medlock.
Richard is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Jean; his daughter, Sherry Keesee, and her children, Andrew, Taylor (Connor), Emily (Gunnar), and great grand-daughter Delaney; his son, Tom (Julie) Medlock, and their children, Katherine, Eric, and Ben; his brother’s wife Nancy, and their children, Michelle (Denny) Cassidy and Virgil (Kelly) Medlock; and his cousin Marilyn Foster. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Virgil Bryan Medlock, Jr.
The Memorial service and reception will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa. The service will be livestreamed on St. John's Episcopal Church Facebook page. Instead of memorials or floral tributes, the family requests that you consider a contribution in Richard’s memory to one of his favorite charities: Brotherhood of St. Andrew, 620 South Third Street, Suite 203, Louisville, KY 40202, 724-266-5810; or BARHD (serving orphans in Southwest Uganda), P.O. Box 702008, Tulsa, OK 74170, 918-299-4946.
