October 31, 1928 – February 25, 2026

Richard Chapman Tumilty was born on October 31, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended local schools, and by age 16 was already an accomplished organist.

He went on to earn a BA in music from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, graduating in 1950. The following year, he received an MA in organ and sacred music from Boston University. He then served four years in the United States Air Force, including a posting in Salzburg, Austria, with an intelligence unit.

In 1958, he earned an MA in Sacred Theology from the Episcopal General Theological Seminary in New York City. He was ordained a priest the next year in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California and served parishes in Vallejo and Humboldt County.

He later became chaplain at the Episcopal Annie Wright School in Tacoma, Washington. There he met Joan Fay of Portland, Maine, and were married in the school chapel in 1966. In 1969, the couple moved to St. Helena, California, where Richard served as rector of Grace Episcopal Church for 23 years.

After retiring in 1992, they relocated to Grass Valley, California. He became assistant priest, organist, and choir director at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. In retirement, he remained active with Habitat for Humanity and teaching English as a Second Language.

In 2013, he entered the Roman Catholic Church. Richard died peacefully at his home in Grass Valley on February 25, 2026, at the age of 97.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan; their son John and his wife Alice Crebs, along with granddaughters Caroline and Sydney, of Lafayette, California; their daughter Sarah of Middletown, California; and their son Michael (Br. Brendan) of Silver City, New Mexico.

A requiem Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grass Valley, California, on March 20 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in St. Helena, California, on March 24 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St Patrick’s Church Music Program (stpatrickgrassvalley.org) or Hospitality House (hhshelter.org).