Celebration of Life Set for Richard Oliphant

Celebration of Life Service to be Held for Richard ‘Dick’ Oliphant

LA QUINTA — A memorial funeral service will be held for Richard “Dick” Oliphant at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in La Quinta on Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. A celebration of life will immediately follow after, details to be provided at the service.

Richard Roy “Dick” Oliphant, 92, of Indian Wells, California, passed away on July 13, 2026.. He spent the last days of life in hospice.

Indian Wells City Councilmember Dana Reed told Uken Report that the City Council was scheduled to meet that day but the meeting “will be postponed so that all Council members may attend the service.”

According to his obituary, Dick arrived in the Coachella Valley in 1962 to build and manage Palm City, the community later known as Palm Desert Country Club. He went on to become one of the region’s most consequential builder-developers and civic leaders, although he rarely viewed his work in terms of individual recognition. He believed development should create complete communities—not only homes and businesses, but also schools, public services, recreation and opportunities for the people who lived there.

That belief guided his service to Indian Wells. Long before serving on the City Council and as mayor, Dick served as the city’s first fire chief and became one of the Coachella Valley’s earliest volunteer emergency responders. As mayor, his financial judgment and development experience helped Indian Wells overcome a period of serious uncertainty and establish the golf, resort and hospitality foundation that continues to support the city today.

Before his passing, Dick asked that those wishing to make a contribution in his memory consider the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, the Palm Springs Air Museum, or the Richard R. Oliphant Scholarship Fund at the Desert Community Foundation.