Richard Edward O'Hara of Hatfield, PA, was very suddenly called home to be with his Savior on August 15, 2026, a the start of a family vacation in New Jersey.  He was 78 years old.

            He was the beloved husband of Marilyn Elizabeth (Widmer), with whom he celebrated 51 years of marriage in May.  Dick is also survived by his sons, Joshua (Lisa) of California, Jesse (Kara) of Lebanon, PA, and Jonathan (Ashley) of Harleysville, PA.  The loves of his life were his four grandchildren, Juliana, Trystan, Piper, and Alexis.  He is also survived by his brother Scott (Sally) of East Berlin, PA.  Dick dearly loved Marilyn's cousins, Debra (Hartman) Parry and Laurie (Hartman) Imbt, as well as their late parents, Edward and Linda (Roberts) Hartman, and regarded them and their families as his own.  He is also survived by a niece, five nephews, and many cousins.

            Dick was born in Baltimore, MD, to Richard Edward and Naomi (Wantz) O'Hara.  After the tragic loss of his father at the age of 7, Dick came to faith in Jesus Christ in high school during a Young Life retreat.  Sensing a call to be a teacher, he spent his freshman year at Towson State College.  Upon realizing that the only thing he wanted to study and teach was the Bible, he enrolled in and graduated from Washington Bible College.  He was also a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and later went on to receive a Doctorate in Theology.

            After ordination in the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC), Dick embarked on a 50-year journey of ministry.  His avenues of service were varied and often overlapped.  He served on the ministerial staff of College Church, Northampton, MA, then as the pastor of the Tyringham Union Church, Tyringham, MA; First Church of of Christ in Lynn, Congregational, Lynn, MA; Faith Church of Worcester, PA; and the yoked parishes of Newport Center Church and the Congregational Church of North Troy, VT.  In 2016, he began ministering as the Director of Spiritual Ministries at Frederick Living, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Zieglerville, PA, a position which he held until his death.

           Dick taught full time at Berkshire Christian College in Lenox, MA.  He also taught at Gordon-Conwell as an adjunct professor, as well as at Gordon College.  He was the Headmaster of United Christian Academy in Newport, VT where he also taught Bible classes to the middle and high school grades.  He traveled throughout New England, teaching at Christian School conferences, seminars, churches, and Sunday School conventions.

            Dick rarely declined if he asked to teach, and in all the many places he served, he always taught one, if not, multiple, Bible studies weekly.  In addition, he served as a county jail chaplain, a hospital chaplain, and as the Protestant chaplain of the Lynn, MA fire department.

            Dick was famous, and perhaps infamous, for his sense of humor...a trait which he passed on to his children and grandchildren.  His laugh was as big as his lap which could hold all of his grandchildren.  They all became his favorite topic of conversation.

            In his later years, one of Dick's greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren.  He and Marilyn were so happy to finally live close enough to attend as many of their plays, recitals, games, and other events as possible.  Officially known as "Poppy" and "Grampy," he was always excited to hear what fun nicknames his grandchildren would come up with next.    

            Above all, Dick was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  He was kind, principled, gregarious, and always ready with a joke.  He loved his family deeply, prayed for them daily by name, and was an example to his sons of what it meant to be a good husband, father, and Christian.

            Although he is gone from our presence here on earth, we are assured that he is alive in heaven, worshipping with the saints, and that we will be united with him when Christ calls us home.

            A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 310 Covenant Lane, Harleysville, PA.  The service will be followed by a time of greeting the family, fellowship, and light refreshments.  The services will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.

            In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:  Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC), CCCC, PO Box 28967, St. Paul, MN, 55128, or online at:  https://onrealm.org/ConservativeCon65174/-/form/give/now  or the Frederick Living Benevolent Care Fund   "TrellisWorks", (Memo line:  FL Benevolent Care-Dick O'Hara), Frederick Living, 2849 Big Road, Zieglerville, PA  19492, or online at:  https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/garden-spot-village/trellisworks-giving (select "Frederick Living Benevolent Care" from the dropdown menu)

            Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home & Crematory, 33 N. Main Street, Telford, PA  18969.