Richard D. “Rick” Hart, 78, of Festus died June 17, 2022, at Select Specialty Hospital in Town and Country. Mr. Hart was a teacher and coach who retired from Herculaneum High School after 30 years. He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church south of Festus. Born Nov. 8, 1943, in Arbyrd, he was the son of the late Genevieve Frances (Tucker) Holligan and Felix J. “Bus” Hart and the stepson of the late Claude Newton Holligan.
He is survived by his wife: Patricia “Patsy” (Rutledge) Hart of Festus; two daughters: Kim (Missy Helms) Hart of Festus and Kris (Cathy) Hart of Phoenix, Ariz.; four sons: Charles (Leslie) Sample Jr. of Festus, John Preston Sample of Festus, Richard Hart Jr. of St. Louis and Eric (Patti) Sample of De Soto; a sister: Beverly (Mark) Freiner of Festus; a stepsister: Deanna (Buford) Stacks of Hornersville; a sister-in-law: Mary Holligan of Pineville, Va.; five grandchildren: Elise (Brandon) Schoggins, Elijah Sample, Macy Sample, Eric Sample Jr. and Deyton Sample; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers: Michael “Mick” Hart and Larry “Mike” Holligan.
A memorial gathering will be held from 3-8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Memorials may be made to the Festus Public Library. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.