Richard Stewart (Dick) Stakes of Hilton Head Island, SC – Dick, 93, passed away September, 2016 at home surrounded by his family and caregivers. Born June 27, 1923 at the family home in Luttrellville, Virginia to the late Nettie Lee Reynolds and the late Thomas Edward Stakes. Dick served in the U. S. Army during WWII winning the Bronze Star Medal as an artillery forward observer. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin University in Washington DC with a BS degree in Financial Management. Dick was recalled during the Korean War and served in Germany as a lieutenant in the artillery. After returning to Washington, DC, he worked for WTTG(TV), in the accounting department subsequently becoming business manager. He left WTTG in 1956 to join Evening Star Broadcasting, ultimately becoming president and chief executive officer. In 1976 he moved from the broadcasting arm when he was elected president and chief executive officer of the Washington Star newspaper. In 1977, he left the Star to become executive vice-president of WSPA, Spartanburg, SC.

Dick retired from Summit Communications, Winston-Salem, NC in 1988 when he and his wife, the late Christine Beuchert of Washington, DC, came to Hilton Head Plantation. Dick was a founder and board member of the Institute of Broadcast Financial Management (now MFMA), and belonged to numerous industry organizations. He was a founding member the South Carolina Yacht Club.

Dick loved boating the waters around the Northern Neck of Virginia and Hilton Head, dining out with friends and rocking in his favorite chair on the back porch in his Hilton Head “paradise”.

He is survived by his daughter Patti Lee (nee Stakes) Nord and husband James of Racine, Wisconsin; son Richard Stewart, Jr. and wife Meredith of Gastonia, NC; grandchildren Jamie Dapra of Racine, WI, Brian Nord of Racine, WI and Robert Nord of Las Vegas, NV; step-grandchildren Emily Noren and Allie Lane of Virginia; two great grandchildren; one step great grandchild and his dear caregivers.

Visitation will be held at Welch Funeral Home, Warsaw, Virginia, Friday September 23, 2016 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm to be followed by a 2:00 pm burial service at Bethany Baptist Church, Callao, Virginia

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