Richard “Dick” Wesley Sloat of Estero, Florida passed away on Saturday January 16, 2021, at the age of 93.

Born in Detroit MI in 1927, Dick grew up in Brightmoor during the Great Depression. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Dick enlisted in the Army Corp of Engineers at the young age of 15. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater from 1943 - 1945.
At the end of World War II, Dick returned to Detroit and learned a new trade called auto body repair. He became a very skilled mechanic, eventually starting his own business, Highland Road Collision, in White Lake MI.

Dick married Helen Bates, also from Brightmoor, in 1955. Together they had three children, two daughters and a son. In 1970 they relocated their family to Union Lake MI and started their collision business. Tragically, Helen passed away on her 57th birthday in 1987.

Dick moved to Estero FL in 2001. He met Judy O’Connor in 2004 and they married on his 80th birthday.
Dick was an avid golfer and all around outdoorsman. He loved to ski, snowmobile, horseback ride, hunt and fish. He had many close and dear friends who sadly have all passed away before him.

Dick loved his family and was fondly known as “Papa Sloat” to his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife Judy O’Connor; children Richard “Richie” (Susie) Sloat, Rachel (David) Shymkiw, step children Alan Nay and Valerie (Matt) Thomas ; 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his daughter Teresa Summerlee Isanhart and granddaughter Ashley Summerlee.

The family asks that memorials be made in Dick’s honor to his favorite charity, Shriners Hospitals for Children.