Dr. Richard Thames • 1941-2024

With sadness we mourn the loss of Dr. Richard Thames. A long-time member and true friend of the parish, his care for our liturgy and bright wit will be sorely missed. Dr. Thames will be buried in the interior columbarium at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, in Birmingham. A requiem mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Saint Andrew's, where he was a very active and supportive member of the parish.

Richard Whatley Thames attended Saint Andrew’s for more than fifty years and was a member for over forty years. He served the parish in many capacities, including Subdeacon, Vestry member, lector, and founder and chair of the Gifts, Memorials, and Fine Arts Committee. Dr. Thames also co-donated the magnificent Christus Rex crucifix which adorns the chancel.

A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Dr. Thames taught German for 34 years at the University of Montevallo until his retirement in 2001, serving as professor of German for most of those years. He was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages for fifteen years and was active in local, state, and national foreign language associations.

An avid traveler, Richard visited most European countries and was present in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 2017 for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation.

Richard had a wide circle of devoted friends, who valued his kindness, erudition, and wry wit.

In addition to his friends, he is survived by his half-sisters, Pamela Boucher and Patricia Delk-Bogue. He also leaves behind his beloved dog, Madison, and his cat, Inky.

Read his obituary here.