Richard Bozman Eaton Jr., May 27, 1931 Feb. 17, 2023, was a bon vivant, a man about town, a famous wit and a society doyen.
Well. …
He was a scholar, at home in musty libraries surrounded by dusty tomes used to delve into the dark inner secrets of man’s soul and his eternal conflict with God — or studying about Eugene O’Neill. In any case, there were dusty tomes and a musty library — and that was in his own home or perhaps in the carrel he kept deep in the oft-forgotten bowels of the university library stacks. Like Sartre, he felt that Hell was other people.
Dr. Eaton was known as Rick, Eaton, Dad and Pater (this was one of his favorites, for, as an educated man, he was well-versed in the classics — TBH, he had but little Latin … and less Greek). He was an imaginative storyteller who excited the passions and minds of his listeners. As a singer, he thrilled generations of churchgoers (granted, it was a very small church, but still … ). He was a loyal friend, a dedicated dog lover and one of those professors who causes reactions such as, “Ah, Geez! Ya got Eaton for class? It ain’t gonna be easy and’ll be a ton of work,” to which he would have responded, “You have Professor Eaton for the course? It will not be easy, and there will be a fair amount of work.”
More than anything, Dr. Eaton loved books. He filled his house with them. His favorite spot was a chair surrounded by them. His idea of a fun vacation was going to exotic, far-away places and visiting the libraries. Really.
Born in Virginia during the Depression, he was compelled as a lad to live north of the Mason-Dixon Line (even worse: in New Jersey), but was allowed to return south to live in Winchester, Va. He went to college at the University of Richmond and graduate school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. He taught briefly at Wake Forest before moving to Morgantown to work for the university in the English department, ending up as a professor emeritus.
Dr. Eaton/Rick/Eaton/Dad/Pater is survived by three sons (from eldest to favorite): Peri, John and Ted; his long-time companion, Madeline; an extended family, including Jere-John, Julie, Christopher, JoAnne and two dogs; and a surprising number of friends who cared more about him than he probably knew.
There will be no formal funeral. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations should be made to The Nativity of St. Mary’s Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Westover or to Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia.
You will be missed. We love you.
