Dr. Richard Maxwell Sasnett III died peacefully on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Born in Columbia, S.C. on March 9, 1937, he was the son of Richard Maxwell Sasnett Jr. and Mary Childs Seabrook Sasnett.
Richard was a pillar of the community and served and cared for many families and children in the Midlands through his pediatric dental practice spanning over 40 years. He attended Dreher High School, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis, Tenn., and completed post-graduate dental work at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Richard was a Captain in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
In his teenage years, Richard earned his Eagle Scout Award in the Boy Scouts of America and was a lifeguard at both Table Rock Park, S.C. and Camp Kanuga, N.C. It was during this time he met the love of his life, Carol Sasnett, and also accepted Christ as his Savior.
Richard was a loving husband, a devoted father, a caring family member, a loyal friend, an encouraging mentor, and an appreciative employer. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and birdwatcher, becoming an accomplished photographer in retirement. Richard and his late wife, Carol, both were licensed pilots and flew regularly to their summer home at Edisto Beach, S.C.
Richard had a great sense of humor and could be very entertaining. He liked to sing while he worked, and he enjoyed dancing the shag and spinning his dance partner all around the floor. He could even recite the entire poem of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” from memory.
He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Forest Lake Club, Columbia Ball, and Columbia Cotillion Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow with the Columbia Rotary Club. Professionally, he belonged to the American Dental Association, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentists, and the Greater Columbia Dental Society.
He was preceded in death by Carol Beane Sasnett, his wife of 47 years, and two grandsons, Cotesworth Daniel Arrieta and Alexander Seabrook Arrieta. He is survived by his children, Richard Maxwell Sasnett IV (Peyton), Cotesworth Pinckney Sasnett (Sylvia), and Caroline Seabrook Sasnett Arrieta; grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Stamps (Will), Joyce Peyton Sasnett Fairey (James), Richard Maxwell Sasnett V, Brandon Maxwell Arrieta (Sandra), Leah Caroline Arrieta, Marilyn Vanessa Belteton, Sherlyn Estrella Belteton, Caroline Alexandra Belteton Sasnett; great grandchildren Irelia Stamps, Jaxon Stamps, Cecelia Seabrook Arrieta; sister, Molly Hughes (Roland) and their children Carolyn Culbertson (Rex), Virginia Borkey (Ed), Holly Lewis, Grant Hughes (Brenda); brother-in-law John Robert Beane Jr. (Marilyn) and their daughters, Brandi Nardi (Alexander) and Ashley Terrell (Richard); and many nieces and nephews, all are very thankful for their brilliant smiles due to his generosity. He is survived also by many lifelong friends and dedicated employees, all of whom were loved like family.
Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 28, at Elmwood Cemetery. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.
Those wishing to honor and celebrate the life of Richard M. Sasnett are encouraged to make donations in honor of Carol Beane Sasnett, to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
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