of Conway, AR
March 3, 1930 - November 19, 2025
RICHARD ALLEN SCHLATER, 95, A RETIRED U.S. ARMY CHAPLAIN AND A MINISTER IN THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WAS CALLED HOME TO HEAVEN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2025. BORN ON MARCH 6, 1930 IN KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, HE GRADUATED FROM MARY D. BRADFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1948. IN JUNE OF THAT YEAR HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (USMC).
ON DECEMBER 16, 1948, HE MARRIED HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, PATRICIA ANN RUELLE. MARRIED AND LIVING AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, HE WAS SENT TO KOREA TO FIGHT IN THE KOREAN WAR IN JULY 1950 WITH THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION. PARTICIPATING IN THE INVASIONS AT INCHON AND OTHER BATTLES IN NORTH KOREA, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1952. HE THEN WENT TO AND GRADUATED FROM, UCLA IN 1955 AND THEN PROCEEDED ON TO FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PASEDENA, GRADUATING IN 1958.
HE MINISTERED IN PRESBYTERIAN PASTORATES IN WISCONSIN AND LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO (FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH) BEFORE ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AS A US ARMY CHAPLAIN. HE MINISTERED TO SOLDIERS IN THE UNITED STATES, IN VIETNAM AND IN GERMANY BEFORE RETIRING IN 1982.
HE ALSO GRADUATED FROM COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE IN FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.
HIS RETIREMENT BECAME A SERIES OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE GOD AS AN INTERIM SUPPLY PASTOR TO VARIOUS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES IN NEW MEXICO AND EL PASO, TEXAS. HE WAS THE PRESBYTERIAN CAMPUS MINISTER AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY. ''REV. RICHARD'' HAD A GRADUATE DEGREE IN MARRIAGE AND COUNSELING FROM LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK AND WAS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR IN TEXAS.
RICHARD AND PATRICIA RAISED TWO DAUGHTERS, PAMELA ANN HUESTON (DR. FRED HUESTON) AND DR. SUSAN JOY MALONE (MICHAEL MALONE) AND WERE BLESSED WITH FOUR GRANDCHILDREN: CAMERON (WHITNEY) HUESTON & DR. DEVIN (DR. MARIAH KANE) HUESTON; MEGAN (DAMON) GRAHAM & SHANE (ALEXIS) MALONE AND TWO GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, RIVER & EVA HUESTON. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 75 YEARS.
HIS ''LIFE VERSE'' IS FROM PSALM 40:9-10 (KJV): ''I HAVE PREACHED RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE GREAT CONGREGATION, I HAVE NOT REFRAINED MY LIPS, O LORD, THOU KNOWEST. I HAVE NOT HID THY RIGHTOUSENESS WITHIN MY HEART; I HAVE DECLARED THY FAITHFULNESS AND THY SALVATION. I HAVE NOT CONCEALED THY LOVING KINDNESS AND THY TRUTH FROM THE GREAT CONGREGATION.''
THE PRIVATE FAMILY MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE. INTERMENT WILL BE AT FORT SMITH NATIONAL CEMETARY.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PASEDENA, CALIFORNIA.