Richard Robinson Poe

Born on October 9, 1943, to Ann Robinson of Welwyn Garden, England. Richard was adopted by J. Paul Poe, who wed Ann Roberta Robinson in London in 1944. A graduate of Wilburton High School, Richard began serving in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, dedicating 20 years to the Navy aboard submarine tenders, diesel submarines, and some of the first commissioned nuclear-powered submarines. During this time, he married Norma Jean Boggs of Wilburton, OK, and together they welcomed three sons: Shawn Poe, 60, of Naples, FL; Jeff Poe, 56, of Mannford, OK; and Justin Poe, 49, of Stillwater, OK. Richard and his family lived in Connecticut, Rota, Spain and Charleston, SC, throughout his naval service.

 After retiring from the Navy, Richard devoted the rest of his life to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He began with a brief tenure as a campus minister for the Church of Christ Bible Chair in Wilburton, OK, before serving as the preaching minister for the Church of Christ on Old Hwy 2 South, also in Wilburton. Richard went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and later his Master’s in Ministry from Oklahoma Christian. He served in the pulpit of the Perkins Church of Christ and then the Stillwater Church of Christ for over 20 years combined. 

Richard was married for 61 wonderful years to the love of his life, Norma. He helped raise three spirited boys to love the Lord and live their lives according to those principles. He passed from this earth on December 1, 2025. Preceded in death by his mother, Ann Robinson Poe; father, J. Paul Poe; and brother, Steven Poe, Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Norma J. Poe; sons Shawn, Jeff, and Justin; daughters-in-law Letty, Christy, and Tiffany Poe; and grandchildren Huston, Rachel, Lindsay, Mason, Rayleigh, Olivia, Lucy, Ella, and Claire Poe. 

Richard lived a life of service to the Lord and accomplished many other achievements, but there is not enough room to include them all. Now, he sings with the angels and the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Today, we celebrate his life, yielded to the shaping of the Holy Spirit, serving God, family, community, and country in the most humble of ways. We love you, Richard—Dad, Papa, Friend—and look forward to joining you again one day in eternity!

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00P.M. at the Church of Christ in Stillwater. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 4-8P.M. at Dighton Marler Funeral Home in Stillwater.

The family request that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Stillwater Life Services, 1509 W 8th Ave, Stillwater, Ok., 74075.