Richard F. (Dick) Eschbacher

RICHARD F. (DICK) ESCHBACHER of North Little Rock, Ark., died on December 23, 2022, at the age of 89. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., on September 15, 1933, to George G. and Agnes B. Eschbacher. He is survived by his son Kevin Eschbacher and wife, Virginia, of North Little Rock; son Randall Eschbacher and wife, Jill, of North Little Rock; daughter Laura Harris and husband, Michael, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and daughter Carolyn Eschbacher of North Little Rock. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Peter, Mollie, John Michael, and Gixxer Eschbacher of North Little Rock: Isaac Harris and Kady Johnson (Zachary) of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Zachary Eschbacher (Lamaia) of North Little Rock. He is further survived by his bonus granddaughters Samantha Reagan and Alyssa Becton, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Kathleen (Kay) Panus Eschbacher of 59 years; a daughter, Ellen A. Eschbacher of North Little Rock; two brothers, George Eschbacher of St. Louis, Mo., and Robert J. Eschbacher of Bonita Springs, Fla. Dick and Kay were childhood friends and high school sweethearts. They married on May 10, 1956. Dick graduated from St Louis University in 1955 with a degree in Geology and then spent two years in the U.S. Army where he served as a guided missile instructor at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Following his discharge, Dick and Kay spent a couple of years roaming the oil fields of West Texas, New Mexico, and California. They eventually settled down in North Little Rock where Dick accepted a job with Sherwood Medical where he traveled Arkansas for 39 years until his retirement in 1998. He loved his job of callings on hospitals and was known and respected for his professionalism and integrity. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he taught religious education, organized and managed the Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick Program for 24 years, and was involved in helping start the Stephens Ministry Program. He also volunteered in both the Kairos Prison Ministry in Pine Bluff and Arkansas Hospice. Dick attended daily mass and reserved time every morning for reading and meditating on the Bible. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed working out at the NLRAC. During baseball season, he enjoyed being with Kay, the love of his life, to watch his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. In all our years, we never heard Dad say an unkind word about anyone, and he treated everyone with respect. A rosary is scheduled for Thursday, December 29 at 5 p.m., at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel with visitation to follow at 6 p.m. Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Friday, December 30 beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Dick preferred that memorials be sent to Arkansas Hospice, Greater Little Rock, 14 Parkstone Circle, Suite B, N. Little Rock, Ark., 72116. Sign the guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com.