Richard Paxton Obituary (1959 - 2021)

Born Sep 21, 1959, Richard Paxton attended Lincoln High School in Portland, OR. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Richard Paxton.

Graduation Year	Class of 1977
Date of Birth	Sep 21, 1959
Date of Passing	Dec 21, 2021
About	Died of Pancreatic cancer
Events	Obituary: Dr. Richard J. Paxton Sept. 21, 1959-Dec. 21, 2021 Richard J. Paxton was born in 1959 in Portland, Oregon, to Dr. Harold and Ann Paxton. He passed away on Winter Solstice 2021, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Although he lived in Oregon most of his life, Richard was also a world traveler from a young age. While his schoolmates spent the four years of their high school experience at Lincoln High School, Richard ventured almost 10,000 miles abroad to spend his sophomore year in Nairobi, Kenya. After high school, Richard attended the University of Oregon for his undergraduate degree, the University of Tulsa for his Master's degree, and the University of Washington for his PhD. He began teaching in 1998 at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh, but later returned to Oregon and spent the majority of his 22-year career at Pacific University. His year-long immersion in the Kenyan culture and community, so different from his own, imbued Richard with a passion for travel, education, and the importance of having respect for, and understanding of, people all over the world. Years later, as a professor of education, he traveled back to Kenya with groups of his students and shared with them his love of Africa and the importance of international exploration and understanding. Richard described those trips as the highlight of his teaching career. Richard was most happy in the wilder-ness, whether hiking around Goat Rocks with lifelong friend Steve Angell, or spending quality family time in Camp Sherman with the wonderful community on the Metolius River. Richard is survived by his wife, Kelly, and their children, Noah and Lili. He also leaves behind two sisters, Barbara and Kathy (Brian), and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family is planning a service for the week of summer solstice. In lieu of flowers, they ask that a contribution of any amount be made to Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, an organization his family has supported since its inception.

Classmate Memories

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Katherine (Kathy) Paxton '81 posted a photo:

Where I'm From, by Kathy Paxton-Williams

I was from a family with three kids.
I am the youngest of the three. The birth order is: Barbara, Richard, Kathy. Richard’s room was next to mine in our old house.
When he moved to the basement, I moved into his room because it was bigger. I am from our pets: Amy, Snowball, Fritzie, Little Cottontail, and Skitten (Richard tried to name her something else, but “Skitten” stuck)
I am from arguing whose turn it was to set the table.
I am from Passover seders where Richard usually found the afikomen,
and Easter egg hunts, where he found the most eggs.
I am from watching Richard and his friends;
they pretended to be the Beatles in our basement.
They went hiking and camping.
Richard lost Dad’s favorite hat at Boy Scout camp,
and a pair of glasses in the ocean.
Our uncle said he saw a dolphin with glasses swim by.
I am from Richard’s retort: “Can is a matter of physical ability,”
which is why I never mix up “can I?” with “may I?”
Richard was on Lincoln’s soccer team the first time
it won the state championship.
I am from his hand-me-down high school commencement cap & gown.
I am from being so proud when he became a teacher, and then a professor.
I am from the sister-in-law, nephew and niece he gave me.
I am from the cancer which stole my mother and my brother.
I am from a family, now only two kids are left, and we are adults.
I miss my brother.

Posted January 26th, 2026

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