Richard Coulter Obituary

Richard Morris Coulter, 87, of Columbia, died on Sunday, October 12th, 2025. Born in 1938 in Chester, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Frank and Helen Aiken Coulter. He was raised in Scarsdale, New York, where he graduated from Scarsdale High School. He then attended and graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where he met his wife of 64 years, Karen. Dick was in Sigma Chi Fraternity at Denison. He was a nationally recognized soccer player competing in the Pan American soccer selection in 1959. Upon graduation he served three years in the US Air Force as a Security Officer before beginning his career in broadcasting. After working for three years at WKTV in Utica, New York, he joined Cosmos Broadcasting in Toledo, Ohio, before transferring to Columbia in 1970. Dick joined the staff of WIS-TV and later worked as the Vice-President and General Manager of WIS-TV and Radio. He then opened a Marketing Company, Coulter and Associates, followed by joining GSX as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing responsible for Northern American Sales. Dick lived a long and meaningful life, characterized by leadership in business and the media industry, and further elevated by service to his community and church. He was Vice-President of the Columbia Chamber, President of the Family Service Center, Vice-President of the Columbia Urban League, on the Committee of 100 and started the Carolina Coliseum Concert Series, now known as the Koger Broadway Series. Dick was a member of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir for over 30 years. He was an avid golfer and member of the Surf Club of North Myrtle Beach and the Members Club of Wildewood and Wood Creek. He loved planting flowers in his garden, traveling with his wife and friends, and spending time at the beach and at home with his children and grandchildren. He was friendly and outgoing to all and never met a stranger. Survivors include his wife, Karen Coulter of Columbia, sons Richard Coulter, Jr. (Becky) of Columbia and Billy Coulter (Missy) of Sumter, sister-in-law Marcia MacBride of Savannah, Georgia, sister-in-law Marjorie Hightower (Jim) of Columbia, five grandchildren: David, Macey, William, Cameron and Charlie, as well as nieces and nephews in Savannah and Charlotte. A celebration of Mr. Coulter's life will be held at 1 o'clock, Saturday, October 18th, 2025, at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. J. Ben Sloan officiating. The family will receive guests at the church in Potts Fellowship Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Debt Reduction Fund at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Lane, Columbia, SC 29229. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.