Richard J. Cipolla, Sr. (Dick), 82, of Jenks, Oklahoma, died in peace on October 9, 2022, at Saint Francis Hospital surrounded by his family.

Early life
Dick was born on January 8, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Joseph A. and Marie A. Cipolla. He grew up in Kansas City with his sister, Mary Jo, and brother, Larry. As a boy, he attended St. Aloysius Elementary School in Kansas City and later attended and graduated from Bishop Hogan High School.

Dick began college in Warrensburg, Missouri, and later transferred to the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) where he played basketball for the Kangaroos and completed his college degree in 1962, obtaining a Bachelor's in Business Administration.

While working as a lifeguard at Grandview Beach on July 4, 1960, he met the love of his life, Margaret Audley. Dick and Margaret married on January 27, 1962, and celebrated 60 years of marriage on January 27, 2022 (and were working on 61 years at the time of his passing).

Dick and Margaret were blessed with two children, Richard J. Cipolla, Jr. and Patrick W. Cipolla.

Family, career & community service

Dick began his career with Phillips Petroleum Company on May 15, 1962, and held many positions until his retirement. Beyond Kansas City, work took Dick and his family to Atlanta; San Mateo, California; and eventually Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Dick and Margaret made many lifelong friends. He retired from Phillips on June 20, 1999, as a financial analyst after 37 years of service.

Despite his demanding career, Dick was always involved with his sons' activities as well as his church and community. With his boys, he was active in the Cub Scouts and YMCA Indian Guides; he coached many youth basketball and baseball teams. He also served many years as an "amateur umpire" calling balls, strikes and outs from the stands at various ballparks in and around the state of Oklahoma.

He attended both St. James and St. John's Catholic churches in Bartlesville, and later St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Tulsa. He served on the St. James Parrish Council and was active in the Knights of Columbus at St. John's for many years, serving a term as Grand Knight. At St. Bernard's, he participated in many church activities, including the meditation group.

He also volunteered for many years at the Green Country Free Clinic, which provided free health care and medications to those in the Bartlesville area who could not afford them and were not eligible for other programs.

Dick was a devoted fan of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team and attended the 2012 NCAA National Championship game with his boys in New Orleans between KU and Kentucky. He was also a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. In his final days, he cheered on and listened to Aaron Judge hits home runs No. 61 and No. 62. Dick was also a fan of the Jenks Trojans high school football team.

Above all, he was an enthusiastic supporter of his boys and his grandchildren in all their athletic, academic, professional and personal endeavors.

Dick was a man of faith and deeply loved his family. In 2001, he and Margaret moved to Jenks to be closer to their grandchildren, whom he often called the "joy of his life." His family will cherish memories of big Italian dinners, vacations to Hawaii and his warm, contagious laugh.

Dick is survived by his wife, Margaret; his sons, Richard (and wife Kim) and Patrick (and wife Stephanie); his grandchildren, Kelsey (and husband John), Whitney, Jessica and John Michael; his siblings, Mary Jo Bohannon (and husband Frank) and Larry Cipolla (and wife Gail); his brothers-in-law, Mike Audley, Jim Audley, Pat Audley, Bob Audley, John Audley and Tom Audley (and wife Michelle); his sister-in-law, Mary Clarke (and husband Ron); and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Immediate family members whose passings preceded Dick's include his parents, Joseph and Marie Cipolla; his in-laws, William and Eileen Audley; his beloved grandson, William Patrick Cipolla; and his brother-in-law, William Audley, Jr., among many other relatives.

In one of her many artistic endeavors, daughter-in-law Kim Cipolla described Dick as "creative and artistic; he sees the best in people, lends a hand to help others and walks with God."

He will be dearly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2022, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 4001 E. 101st Street, Tulsa, OK 74137. Interment will follow in the columbarium at Saint Bernard's Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to an organization close to Dick's heart, Jenks CarePoint, a Christian-based ministry which serves as the primary clothing closet for Jenks Public Schools, providing clothing and shoes to all ages, free of charge.