Richard David Teubner

Richard David Teubner, Tulsa insurance executive, passed away December 14, 2022, in Plano, TX, after a brief illness.

A Tulsan for most of his life, Dick was born to William and Mexa Taylor Teubner October 4, 1929, at Morningside (now Hillcrest) Hospital in Tulsa.  He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1947, and four years later from the University of Oklahoma, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in accounting.  Dick married Barbara Johnson, a Muskogee native he met at OU, in 1952 – a union which produced two children.

They spent their first few years of marriage in the Panama Canal Zone, where Dick served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, assigned to the Auditor General’s office.  This plush assignment, during wartime, came as a direct result of Dick’s befriending an older student at OU, a student who, unbeknown to Dick, happened to be a high-ranking Air Force officer.  This man so appreciated Dick’s kindness that he eventually paid Dick back with an amazing assignment.

While Dick initially planned to attend law school after his military service was complete, he returned to Tulsa with a child on the way and an ailing father who wanted them to start a business together.  They formed a small property and casualty insurance agency, which later merged with Rich & Cartmill, now the largest agency of its type in Oklahoma.  Dick served as president of Rich & Cartmill from 1975 to 2001, later as chairman, and ultimately chairman emeritus.

Dick was thoroughly involved in the insurance industry, working at the local, state, and national levels.  In 1983, he was honored to be chosen to serve as President of the Independent Insurance Agents of America.  In 1988, Dick received the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest award that can be given by the national organization.

Locally, he also served as President of the Family & Children’s Service (1963) and President of the Will Rogers Rotary Club (1965).  In his retirement years Dick became a member of the board of directors of Delta Dental of Oklahoma and served as board chairman from 2007-2010.  He also enjoyed many years serving the city he loved as a Tulsa International Airport ambassador.  As a mere volunteer, he was once chosen the airport’s “Employee of the Month” for the extraordinary assistance he provided a traveler.  Puzzled by the praise, his response was, “I was just doing what I thought I was supposed to do.”  Dick was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church, as well as the Will Rogers Rotary Club.

Travel was an important part of his life, and Dick was thrilled to experience the world.  He capped off his adventures with a tandem parachute jump on his 85^th birthday, accompanied by his children and one grandchild.  In late 2021, Dick began a new adventure by choosing to move to the Dallas area, bringing him closer to several family members.

Dick Teubner was known as a man of integrity, good natured, loyal, hard working.  He buried two wives, as well as a late-in-life companion (Barbara, 1985, Marion, 2009, Katherine Reid, 2020), yet never complained, always maintaining his trademark optimistic spirit.  In addition to the women he described as his “three aces,” he was predeceased by his parents and sister, Lois Head.  He is survived and missed by daughter, Terri Hollingsworth (David), of Frisco, TX, son, Russell Teubner (Julie), of Stillwater, OK, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Sharone Zuniga for her friendship and assistance with our dad and Poppy these past several months.  We are also grateful for Lauren, Kevin, and LaTosha from Amity Hospice, in Dallas, who provided an excellent level of care.  More thanks go to Bola and the caring staff of HarborChase, in Plano.

A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, January 16, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks for people to donate to their favorite charity.  Some of Dick’s local favorites were Clarehouse, John 3:16, and Saint Simeon’s.