Richard Venable Doll passed on December 5, 2023, due to Kidney Failure. Richard was born February 21, 1934 in New York City, NY to Jacob and Carolyn Doll. He grew up in New York and graduated in 1953 from New York Military Academy.
Richard, as a Sergeant First Class, served in the US Army from March 3, 1953 to November 9, 1967 (14 years, 8 months), stationed in Korea, Viet Nam, and Germany. Shortly after his military service, Richard’s Dad arranged for him to study at a Culinary School in Germany. Some of Richard’s fondest memories were at his family’s summer home at Nomini Bay in Montross, VA, where his family raised Oysters.
Richard and Paula met at a New Year’s Eve Party in Dallas, December 31, 1975. They were engaged in January 1976 and married April 10, 1976. According to Richard, “Paula asked him to dance and the rest is history”. As a side-note, Richard was an excellent dancer, as he took dancing lessons at Mrs. Covington’s New York Dance Academy……Paula had very little dancing experience.
In 1984, Richard and Paula adopted a 2-year old little curly headed boy, Aaron Richard Doll, who is a Chef in Tennessee. Most of Richard’s career in Dallas was in the Automotive field. In 1992, Richard’s employer transferred him to the Washington DC/Virginia area. They resided there for 12 years.
In 2003, Paula retired and they built a beautiful log home in East TN where they resided for 16 years. In the Fall of 2019, Richard and Paula moved back to Texas where their love story began. Richard loved Classical and Christian music. He especially loved hearing Paula sing. Throughout their marriage, Richard and Paula sang in church choirs together. Richard was known in Tennessee and Texas as “The Cheesecake Maker”. He took great pride in making Cheesecakes for friends.
Richard is survived by his wife, Paula; his Schnauzer-lapdog-Skipper; his son, Aaron Richard; Grandchildren: Aaron Eli, Taylor Loretta, Jacob Edward, & Johnathan, plus one Great-Grand-daughter, Sophia; Cousins: Becky Doll in North Carolina, Betty Frazer in Tennessee, Bob Doll and Carolyn Ann McBath in Georgia, plus special Church friends in Virginia, Tennessee, & Texas. Preceded in death by his father, Jacob; mother, Carolyn; and sister, Patricia.
Richard and Paula’s favorite scriptures: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me” …and Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.
A memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at DFW National Cemetery 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.