A Celebration of the Life of Rich will be held at the church on Saturday, 3/5/2022 at 1pm.
To join via Live Stream: click here.
Click here for the bulletin: A Celebration of Life for Rich Myers
Following the service, there was a white dove release outside. What a beautiful tribute to the faith that Rich had for his Lord.
Rich’s Obituary
Richard Lewis Myers, 79, passed away on January 22, 2022, after a long battle with Lewy body dementia. He died peacefully at home in Greenville, NC, with his wife of 42 years, Candace L. Myers.
Rich Myers was born on December 10, 1942, the fourth and youngest child of John and Marion Myers of Wintersville, OH. Rich played football through high school and college. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia and a Master’s degree in hospital administration from Duke University in 1967.
Rich spent most of his career as a hospital administrator in Durham, NC. After working at New York University Hospital and West Virginia University Hospital, Rich began as an assistant administrator at Watts Hospital in 1973. He helped facilitate the merger of Watts and Lincoln Hospitals, which led to creation of Durham Regional Hospital in 1976. Ten years later, Rich become the president of Durham Regional, and he served as CEO of that hospital corporation for the rest of his career. In 1998, Rich oversaw the transition of Durham Regional to the Duke University Health System. Throughout his career,
Rich invested heavily in his community, serving in leadership positions with these and other civic organizations: Durham Health Partners, Durham Merchants Association, Durham Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club (who named him Kiwanian of the Year in 1992), United Way of Durham, American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Durham Public Education Network. After a well-spent, impactful career, Rich retired in 2000.
Rich spent much of his retirement creating elaborate stained-glass art, exploring his family genealogy, volunteering at New Bern Battlefield Park, fishing, walking his beloved dog, Pete, and traveling. Rich and Candace became valuable members of Trinity United Methodist Church in New Bern, NC, and, later, they joined the congregation of Brown’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Pittsboro, NC. Rich’s church communities were very important to him, and his faith gave him solace while he struggled with his illness.
Rich is survived by his wife, Candace; his brother Jack (Kay) Myers; his children, Kristen Myers (Kirk Miller), Alan Myers, Becky (Brian) Aurillio, and Rod (Nancy) Dail; his grandchildren, Nikki Dail, Russell (Erin) Dail, Mitchell Manson, Leighana Dail, Samantha Myers-Miller, and Isabel Myers-Miller; and his great-grandchildren, Lilianna, KJ, John Trunks, Charleigh, and Fenrir. He was preceded in death by his son, Gary Dail, and his granddaughter, Allie Dail.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Hospice Foundation of America or the Lewy Body Dementia Association.