Richard Proctor touched the lives of many people. With his quick wit, easy smile and welcoming personality, he made friends easily. He had many gifts and he chose to share them with others. He was an accomplished artist, university professor and published author. Both kind and thoughtful, Richard was the consummate gentleman.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 1959, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Michigan State University in 1962. Upon graduation, he moved to Seattle to teach art at the University of Washington. He became an assistant professor in 1964 and then an associate professor in 1970. He taught in the art department at the University of Washington until he retired in 1992.
Richard’s artwork has been displayed at the Seattle Art Museum, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Bellevue Art Museum, the Detroit Art Institute, the NYC Museum of Contemporary Crafts, the Museum of Northwest Art and the Seattle Tacoma International Airport.
Richard was generous with his time. He volunteered with the Whidbey AIDS Support fund and was a member of the Island County AIDS Task Force. He was a founding member of the Island Arts Council and Chairman of the Design Review Board of Langley (1985-1991). He was a member of the American Association of University Art Professors, the Northwest Designer Craftsmen Association, and the Surface Design Association. He volunteered as a docent for the Palm Springs Art Museum and was a member of the Northwest Orchid Society.
Richard spent 50 years with his devoted partner (and ultimately husband) Ronald Childers, an art teacher himself, who survives him. Together, they were devoted partners in life as well as in art. They moved to Whidbey Island in the 1970s. Starting in 1983, they owned and operated the Childers Proctor Gallery in Langley where they promoted and encouraged many new talents. They also enjoyed extensive international travel. The two moved to Palm Springs in 1999 and for many years split their time between the California desert and the Pacific Northwest.
Richard was the eldest of two sons of the late Edgar Elmer and Kathryn Isabella (Macfarlane) Proctor. He is survived by his life partner Ronald Childers, as well as his “Indiana Family” nephews Michael (Angela) Proctor; Gregory (Kristy) Proctor; Jason (Lyndsey) Shine, as well as nieces Stacey (Ron) Marshall; Marsie Harrington; and Lori (Jim) Davis. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Susan Jean Proctor along with several great nieces and nephews.
Richard left a beautiful mark on our world, and he will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
An interment ceremony will take place at Saint Augustine’s in-the-Woods Episcopal Church in Freeland, Washington on August 13, 2020, at 11:00 am.
