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Ceips was owner of Sea Island Ophthalmology. Friends said Friday that he always was ready to help clients after hours or on weekends if necessary.
"He really took care of his patients," said close friend Rod Sproatt. "His questions was, 'What do you need?' And he took care of it."
When Catherine Ceips won her first primary for the House seat representing Beaufort in 2002, Sproatt said Richard was elated.
"Rick was smiling as much then as when he got his medical degree," he said.
Richard Ceips was born Sept. 21, 1951, in Phoenix, a son of Sigrid Neimans Ceips and Imants Ceips. He received his bachelors degree in biology from the University of South Carolina and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church.
Richard Ceips first came to Beaufort in 1978 as a biology teacher at Robert Smalls Junior High School where he met Catherine, said Etta Mann, a former guidance counselor at the school.
"I said to him, 'Listen, that's a cute little honey down there. You need to introduce yourself,'" Mann said.
He left for medical school in 1982 and married Catherine in 1986. The couple returned to Beaufort in 1993 when Richard Ceips took over a local ophthalmology practice.
The family will receive friends and patients from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Ceips' home, 1207 Bay St.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. John's Lutheran Church, with burial at 6:30 p.m. in Thornley Cemetery, Moncks Corner.
Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Roberta Burkhart of Martinez, Ga., and Margaret Ceips of Hendersonville, Tenn.; and three brothers, Melvin Ceips of Tyler Town, Miss., Imants Ceips of Beaufort and Arnold Ceips of Charleston.
Memorials may be made to the Storm Eye Institute at MUSC, MUSC Foundation, P.O. Box 250450, Charleston, SC 29425.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.dial-murrayfuneralhome.com.
Dial-Murray Funeral Home is in charge.
