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James Richard “Dick” Wolfenbarger, 82, passed away from natural causes on March 23, 2025 at his home in Cottonwood Heights Utah.
Richard was born on November 15, 1942 in American Falls, Idaho to Floyd and Afton Wolfenbarger. He was the third of seven siblings. He spent his childhood years in American falls and graduated From American falls High school. He played numerous sports, excelling especially in football. He played on both offense and defense earning Varsity letters each year.
After finishing school in Idaho he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he married his first wife Sharon. They had 3 sons, Todd, Joe, and Cory. They later divorced. He married his second wife Lori and they had 3 sons, Matthew, Benjamin, and Aaron. Though this marriage ended in divorce they remained close friends to the end.
Richard was the epitome of a business man and his career reflected that. He was always sharply dressed and a true leader. He had various jobs over the years, mainly in the field of retail sales. He managed many of the top drug stores such as Skaggs Drug, Osco, Payless and finally RiteAid. He served as Vice President of Skaggs Telecommunications for a time as well as roles as an independent salesman. He wound down his career working for his son Todd at The Summit Group, a job his family will always appreciate.
Richard loved boating with his family at Redfish Lake in Idaho. He spent many years with his brother Dennis and his family at the lake cabin, a yearly tradition. He enjoyed golfing and quick trips to Wendover. In his later years he cherished spending time with his grandchildren and took every opportunity to do so. He loved a good conversation and a Wendy's Frosty. He even developed a love for reggae music following his son Aaron and never missed an update on his tours.
Richard is survived by his two brothers, Robert (Lyla) Wolfenbarger and Dennis (Cindy) Wolfenbarger, his six sons Todd, Joe, Cory, Matthew, Benjamin, and Aaron. Also survived by fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his Parents Floyd and Afton Wolfenbarger, Siblings Evva (Jerry) Stubbs, Michael Wolfenbarger , Vicki (Rick) Mendisabal , and David (Anna) Wolfenbarger.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the caring staff at Coventry, especially Nikki, along with the nurses and aides who provided such compassionate care for Richard in his final years. Their dedication will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Services will be held Friday, April 25th at 11am at Larkin Sunset Lawn located at 2350 E 1300 S Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends and family may gather one hour prior. You may watch the service online through Zoom by clicking on the “Watch Service” button above.
A celebration of life will be held later that day at Murray Park pavilion number 2 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm .The following day at the Neeley cemetery in American Falls, Idaho at 11:00am, his grave will be dedicated in a short graveside service.
Guestbook/Condolences
“A Wendy’s Frosty”
My dad was a Burger King 👑
My condolences to you all.
A fan of Aaron’s,
Jennifer
We lost a mentor, a friend, and a truly one-of-a-kind individual, Dickus. It's hard to put into words the impact he had on my life. 24 years ago, he took a chance on a punk kid and gave me a job at Rite Aid, setting me on a path I might never have found otherwise.
Those Rite Aid days were something else. Dickus, nearing the end of his career, and me, just starting out, somehow managed to get the job done – and usually better than anyone else – amidst countless coffee and smoke breaks, filled with laughter and wisdom. Being my best friend's dad added a whole other layer, with him always good-naturedly ribbing me about my friend's antics.
He wasn't just a boss; he was a mentor, offering sound advice and guidance over the years. Even when I moved to the pharmacy, a department he famously clashed with, he found a way to celebrate my success. I remember telling the pharmacy manager I was going to lunch with Dickus, and we ended up at Mimi's for a "quick bite" that turned into a three-hour adventure. Returning to a stressed-out manager and a mountain of prescriptions, Dickus just shrugged it off with a smile. That was him – unapologetically himself, and always looking out for me.
Dickus, you'll be deeply missed. Your humor, your wisdom, and your unwavering support will stay with me forever. Rest in peace.
I had the privilege of working for Richard in Burley, ID back in 1973-74 at the Skaggs Drug Center. I always considered him a great boss, always had fond memories of him and so often wished I could turn the clock back to those days and still be working for him. My regards go to his family and hope they appreciated him just as much. RIP Richard and Blessings to the family.