R.F. Burke Steele Jr., Md

Richard Floyd Burke Steele, Jr., MD, died on March 21st, 2017. He was the son of the late Richard Floyd Burke Steele and Louise Adams Steele. Born April 3, 1934 in Lynchburg, VA the family settled in Petersburg in the mid 1930’s. He attended the Petersburg Public Schools and received his BS degree from Washington and Lee University and his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia (VCU). After 2 years serving as a physician in the US Navy, he located in Petersburg and began his medical practice in the downtown area. A mutual devotion existed between the doctor and his patients. This relationship of caring concern lasted for 55 years. He assumed numerous positions of leadership in the medical community including serving as the Chief of Staff at the Petersburg General Hospital in 1985. He served 46 years on the Board of Directors of Virginia Commonwealth Bank and over 20 years on the Advisory Board of First and Merchants Bank. Other community activity involved the Petersburg Rotary Club and the Petersburg Museums Board. First Baptist Church positions included Adult Men’s Sunday School teacher, Finance Committee Chairman, Deacon and Trustee. Dr. Steele’s passions outside of family and medicine included a love for the outdoors, bird and waterfowl hunting and animals. He was a member of Lees Mill Pond, Nebletts Pond, Fort Powhatan and Swans Point Club. He will always be remembered for his devotion to his beloved lab, Buck, who never left his side whether the day called for hunting, seeing patients or enjoying a Sunday drive. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Scarff Steele. His devoted children are Richard Floyd Burke Steele, III and wife Laura, Thomas Winfield Steele and wife Shannon and Elizabeth Steele Crawford and husband Bill. His loving grandchildren are: Cameron Scott Steele, husband Kiernan, Richard Floyd Burke Steele, IV, Meredith Margaret Steele, Robert Booker Steele, Anne Thomas Steele, Louise Campbell Steele, Jackson Cawthorne Steele, William Henry Weed Crawford, V and Elizabeth Grace Crawford. His sister, Louise Scott Steele of Raleigh, NC survives him. Dr. Steele was predeceased by his sister, Alice Booker Steele. A celebration of his life will be held at First Baptist Church, 235 West Washington St., Petersburg on Saturday, March 25th at 11:00 a.m. with burial immediately following the service at Blandford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 445, Petersburg, VA, 23804 or to the charity of one’s choice. Dr. Steele’s life was exemplified by the prophecy of Micah 6:8 “What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”