Richard C Edgar November 13, 1941 - August 29, 2021

His great loves were his family, classical music, travel — and, oh yes, the rewards points that allowed him to travel farther and more cheaply.

Richard C Edgar, a man deeply afflicted with wanderlust his entire life, left Earth on his final journey August 29, 2021. Although she could not accompany him on this last trip, Judith, his wife of 48 years, was by his side in his room at St. Luke's Health — The Vintage Hospital — in Houston when he departed at the age of 79.

Born to Robert and Helen Edgar on November 13, 1941, in Moline, Ill., he received his bachelor's degree in music education from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., in 1963. He met his wife, Judith Olson, while he was teaching elementary school music in Roseau, Minnesota. They married August 21, 1973. Judith said she knew Richard was the one because of his caring character and their shared love of music. It didn't hurt that he drove a fancy Chrysler 300.

An accomplished musician, Richard taught others to love music. Not only was he a talented organist — serving as a church organist from the time he was in college until sometime in the 1970s — and pianist, but he also was proficient in all the band instruments, giving countless elementary school-aged children a head start in music through his band programs and instilling in them an appreciation for all kinds of music during his 40-year teaching career.

His family says that his love of music began when he was 3 years old and his older brother, Ralph, gave him a hammer with which he broke a basement window. He liked the sound of the glass breaking so much that he broke more windows. Richard always said that was the moment he started loving musical sounds.

With their two young sons, Matthew and John, the family moved to Houston from Roseau in 1979.

In addition to being a musician and teacher, Richard also was an entrepreneur. In the early 1980s he bought three ice cream trucks, which he, his wife, and niece Jacki drove for a few years. In 1987, he went to work for Schwan's, a food delivery service. In the summer of 1989, he took his family to Europe on rewards points he had accumulated while working for Schwan's. That family trip was followed by one to Hawaii — also on points.

In the fall of 1989, he returned to teaching, landing a job in Falfurrias near Corpus Christi. There, he lived in a camper for a year while his family stayed in Houston. He flew back home every weekend, only paying for two flights the entire school year because of the rewards points he accumulated by booking on popular flights knowing he would be bumped to the next flight.

The following year he began teaching in the Houston Independent School District. In addition to his teaching, he also bought two snow-cone stands that he operated during the summer. He retired from his teaching career in 2009 from Sinclair Elementary School in HISD. A quiet, modest man, Richard received many teaching honors during his career, but his family only heard about them when the school called. Richard would only tell them, "I have to work late tonight," when he was receiving an honor.

After his retirement, he continued to work, driving trucks for his sons' business, until July of this year. He always liked to take the road less traveled on those trips.

A lifelong learner whose library was stocked with books on theology, philosophy and history, Richard was an astute news junkie who wanted to understand the past as well as today's world. His travels were part of that mission. Beginning in 2011 and every year after until 2020, Richard and Judith would take an overseas trip that Richard had planned. In 2016, he fulfilled his dream of traveling around the world with he and Judith cruising to Barcelona and then flying to China and visiting Vietnam and Korea before returning home via San Francisco.

A man of few words in a family where other members are quite talkative, Richard was known for his ability to listen to others and really hear what they said. He was a quiet introvert who loved people and knew their stories. He always believed he could learn from others and was accepting of everyone.

As much as he loved music and travel, there was never any doubt that his first love was his family. He enjoyed spoiling his wife. By example, he taught his sons valuable lessons about hard work, commitment to family, and friendship. He was proud of his sons and their success — in both their professional lives and their marriages. He loved his daughters-in-law as if they were his own daughters and took a great interest in each of his three grandchildren.

Richard is survived by his wife Judith Ann Edgar; sons Matthew A. (Jodi L.) Edgar and John (Jennifer) Edgar; grandchildren Heidi P., Jeffrey G., and Lincoln Thomas Edgar; brother Ralph (Ann) Edgar; sister Marilyn (Bob) Lindman; brother-in-law Terry Vincent; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy Vincent.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on September 11, 2021 at Trinity Episcopal Church in midtown Houston. The Rev. Hannah E. Atkins Romero and the Rev. Bill Miller will officiate. Inurnment will be at the church's columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Richard's name to Trinity Episcopal Church's general fund using this online link: https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=156477

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