Richard Ralph Dunford

April 2, 1938 — February 18, 2026

Richard Ralph “Richie” Dunford, 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Born April 2, 1938, in Lucien, Oklahoma, he was the son of Richard “Dick” Dunford and Lillie Cooper Dunford. A life-long resident of Perry he graduated from Perry High School in 1956. He attended one semester at Okmulgee A&M College.

His grandfather, Ralph Cooper, opened Cooper Motor Company, an Oldsmobile, GMC dealership, in a building on Sixth Street in 1934. In 1948, they moved the company to the 600 block of Elm Street. Richard “Dick” Dunford took over the business in 1953 and owned and operated it until 1978, at which time Rich took over the family business and ran it until 1985.

Prior to going to work at Cooper Motor Company, Richard worked for Leonard and Flora Bell Mayes at Western Auto. He was employed from 1985-1991 for J.I Crossfield Chevrolet, and established Dunford Auto Sales on Fir Avenue in 1993.

On April 24, 1959, he and the former May Howell were married at the First Baptist Church in Perry. He is the father of two daughters, Lisa and Sheila.

He and his late wife, with their travel buddies, Sharon Courtright and the late Dean Courtright, loved to travel on their motorcycles. They had a goal to visit all 50 states and made it to 48 of them. They were members of Gold Wing GWRRA. He and his friend Larry Daylor are the oldest living members of the First Baptist Church, Larry being a member only one month longer than Rich. He loved having coffee at Kumback and had a phenomenal memory of Perry history which he loved to share.

Preceding him in death were his wife, May; parents, Dick and Lillie Dunford; and two children: Shelly Renee and Ralph Brett; sisters and brothers-in-law Ray and Faye Richardson; Delcie and Gene Seat; and brothers-in-law Keith Hansing and Ted Vasek.

Survivors include his daughters: Lisa Jeffrey, and Sheila Stueve and her husband, Monty; one sister: Cheryl Hansing, McKinney, Texas, and a sister-in-law, who he valued as a sister. Linda Fischer and her husband Larry, Oklahoma City; and grandchildren: Courtney Rosencutter (Brian), Cooper Skluzacek, and Kendalyn Stueve; Bailey Brown (Jesse), and Jeanie Marie; and one great grandchild, Hailey May Rosencutter; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026, at the First Baptist Church, Perry. Richard will be laid to rest next to his wife, May, at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry. Memorial contributions can be made in Richard Dunford’s name to The First Baptist Church of Perry.