Rock Hill, SC – Richlon Glenn Underwood, 87, passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning, November 3, 2023 after more than 3 months of declining health.
Rich was born in 1935 in Brookfield, MO, the only child of the late Daisy Jenkins Pound and the late Wilbur Darrell Bunch. He was later adopted by his step-father, Glenn Underwood. Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, Rich’s family moved often, chasing work in the small towns of Northeast/Central Missouri. He graduated from Moberly High School in 1953 and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1957.
After graduation, Rich began his career in the group health and life insurance industry, joining Metropolitan Life in St. Louis. He served in the US Army from 1958-1961, and was stationed in Hokkaido, Japan. Following his honorable discharge, Rich re-joined Metropolitan in St. Louis.
Rich married Carolyn Kay Barrows of Kahoka, MO on January 12, 1963, with whom he shared two children: Mitchell James and Jane Kay. During their marriage and as he advanced in his career, Rich moved his young family from St. Louis to South Bend to Milwaukee to Columbus, Ohio. He joined General American Life Insurance Company in 1969 as District Group Manager. Rich and Kay divorced in 1970.
On New Year’s Eve 1971, Rich married Judy Adkins Robinson in Columbus. His career sent them back to St. Louis for several years, back to Columbus, to Charlotte in 1984 and to Atlanta in 1992. Rich retired from General American in 1998 as Regional Vice President. He and Judy moved to a beautiful lakeside home in Lake Keowee, SC, but divorced in 2006. After four years in Seneca, SC, Rich moved to the Rock Hill area in 2010. Rich was a lifelong reader, car enthusiast and fan of St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He was a natural salesman; he never met a stranger and was very generous with those he cared about. In addition to his parents, Rich was preceded in death by his son Mitch in 1993 and his son-in-law Bruce Gillespie in 2021.
Rich is survived by his daughter Jane Gillespie, Charlotte, NC; grand-daughter, Anna Gillespie and partner Patrick Combe, Chicago, IL, and several dear friends. A special thanks to Rich’s team at Providence Care for helping us navigate his final days with compassion and dignity.
Celebration of Rich’s life will be Saturday, November 25 at 11 am at Calvary Baptist Church, 830 N. Jones Avenue, Rock Hill, SC 29730. For any who wish to honor Rich’s memory, please consider a donation to Calvary Baptist Church Children’s Ministry (address above), or to an organization close to your heart. Calvary Baptist Church will be hosting the family.
Condolences can be made at greenefuneralhome.net.