Richard Austin Estus, known lovingly as "Popie" to his family, was born September 23, 1933, in Binghamton, New York. Though he came from upstate New York, Dick considered himself a Savannahian through and through, a genteel enthusiast of living life fully. He was cultured, well-traveled, and endlessly ready for the next adventure or visit, whether that meant being the last one on the dance floor at one of his grandchildren's weddings, playing a round of golf nearly every day of the week, spending an afternoon in his garden, or simply appreciating those around him. Dick passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the age of 92.

After graduating from Bucknell University and completing six months of military service, Dick set out to build a career in advertising, going to work for General Outdoor Advertising. The job carried him through Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Utica before landing him in Richmond, Virginia, where he met Suzanne "Sue" Anderson, the woman who would become his wife of 63 years. When the Turner family's outdoor advertising business came to Richmond, Dick found himself working first for Ted Turner's father, and later for a 24-year-old Ted Turner himself, eventually spending 15 years with the company in Atlanta. In 1971, a job offer brought Dick to Savannah to manage a local billboard company, and within a few years he'd bought it outright, renaming it Estus Outdoor. Over the decades that followed he built, sold, and rebuilt that company more than once, finally retiring in 2018 after 63 years in the business.

Nothing came before family for Dick. His three daughters were the center of his world, and Sue matched his zest for life with her own special energy and style. They were a beautiful couple who loved to dance, travel, and give endlessly of themselves to everyone around them. Their home on the Vernon River grew into something of a local landmark, filled with the antiques Dick collected over a lifetime, a home that told the story of a well-curated and soulful life, with a style that ranged from cars to art to collectibles, and a genuine appreciation for nature, surrounded by camellias, azaleas, and flowers and plants of every variety. Family and friends were welcomed at the door by a hydrangea bush so enormous and vibrant it felt like something out of a fairytale. Weddings, holidays, and ordinary summer afternoons all found their way to their porch under the oaks, and Dick never once thought a crowd could be too big. He kept a sunny outlook no matter what came his way, rarely dwelled on bumps in the road, and had a gift for staying young at heart, purposeful, and genuinely present in whatever moment he was in. His magnetic love for life inspired anyone who crossed his path.

Flowers and gardening were a genuine passion, not just a pastime, even well into retirement, he could be found tending his own sprawling yard along the banks of the Vernon River. He loved a round of golf, especially with the boys, and he loved his boat, though his family will happily tell you that being a boater was never really his strength. Dick’s approach to docking amounted to aiming for the dock and hoping for the best. He wasn't much of a boat captain. He didn't need to be. He was everything else and more.

Dick's leadership extended well beyond Savannah's city limits, too, he served as president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), the industry's national trade organization. He went on to serve as chairman of the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), helping bring Home Depot's distribution operations to Savannah and open the door to the port growth that followed, and he was the founding chairman of the First City Club, which he built from day one to be open to everyone, at a time when not every club in town could say the same. For his decades of business leadership and civic contribution, Dick was inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame, sponsored by Junior Achievement, and received the Savannah Area Chamber's Oglethorpe Leadership Award, an honor given to fewer than 40 people in over two centuries. He also led the United Way and served as a board member of Savannah Technical College, a natural leader and inspiration through and through.

But what Dick invested in most was his family. He showed up for his grandchildren the way he showed up for everything else, with more energy than people half his age, and a genuine curiosity that never seemed to run dry. He traveled with them, danced with them, asked them real questions and listened to the answers, and had a way of making whoever he was with, young or old, family or new friend, feel like the most important person in the room. He lived life passionately and curiously right up to the end of his 92 years, leaving behind a standard for how to appreciate the gift of walking this earth, and how generously to share that gift with the world.

Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Suzanne Anderson Estus, his siblings, Joan Blessed, Tony Estus, and parents Win and Missy Estus. He is survived by his brother, Peter Estus, his three daughters, Julie Estus Kehoe (the late Frank Kehoe), Sally Estus Payne (Ross Payne), and Kent Estus Buttimer (Stephen Buttimer). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Taylor and Cale Thurber, Quinn, Jhett and Mollie, Tatum and Malcolm McDowell, Austin and Randall Slimp, Estus and Sawyer, Suttle and Christina Payne, Fulton Payne, Stephen and Margaret Buttimer, and Sims Buttimer; and his dog, Wakefield, whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Savannah, United Way of Savannah, St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations, or the Humane Society of Savannah in honor of his loyal dog, Wakefield.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Hospice of Savannah and Coastal Care Partners for their compassionate care during his final days.

A funeral service will be held at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.