At home with his loving family, Richard Clyde Capps, Jr. went to be with the Lord on October 1, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, SC, at 93 years of age. He was born on May 1, 1933 in Mullins, SC. Clyde’s family moved to Myrtle Beach, SC when he was 8 years old. His father was going to manage the Nuway Laundry where Clyde also started working when he was 12 years old. Clyde was an original Myrtle Beach boy. His family built a home on 14th Avenue North on Chester Street, one block from the beach. His favorite pastimes were spent in the Atlantic surf: pier fishing, skiing, riding bumper cars at the Pavilion, and enjoying beach life. Clyde graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1951. He was a star Seahawk football player. Clyde was the very first football player to ever receive a football scholarship to college from Myrtle Beach High School. He played in the Tobacco Bowl and Cotton Bowl for the Seahawks. After high school, he graduated from the Citadel in 1955 before going into the Air Force as a commissioned officer. He served a year of his time on a secret airbase in the Aleutian Islands where he monitored the skies for Russian weapons coming into American airspace during these Cold War times. He was actually on duty the night Russia launched Sputnik, and he said “the phone lines to the White House were blowing up because they feared we were under attack, before realizing it was actually the first satellite launched into space.” His parents opened the Royal Cleaners on Broadway Street in downtown Myrtle Beach on May 1, 1955. Clyde worked here with his family for many years. During this time, Clyde and his wife, Yvonne also opened the Royal Inn Motel where his childhood home had been located.
Clyde first noticed Yvonne Simmons while she was cheering at a Myrtle Beach High School football game when he was home on leave from the Citadel, but they did not officially meet until a few months later. They got married on September 2, 1956 at First Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Married for almost 69 years, their love was one for the ages, never wavering and always true. Yvonne was always “Clyde’s girl.” They truly set
an example for their children through the love and devotion they had for each other. Clyde sadly lost Yvonne in April of 2025, but they are joyously reunited in Heaven today!
Together Clyde and Yvonne owned and operated the Ocean Park Motel which later became the Royal Inn Motel. They bought the Royal Inn from Clyde’s parents, which was right beside the Ocean Park. It was in the “old heart” of Myrtle Beach from 1970-2004. Raising four kids while running a motel was hard work, but they met the challenge and their kids were blessed growing up in this unique, old beach town environment. People from many places enjoyed Clyde and Yvonne’s kind and hospitable personalities, which was one of the reasons they always came back to the Royal Inn.
Clyde and Yvonne were proud to be among the 40 Charter Members of Ocean View Baptist Church, and Clyde continued to be a part of Jerry Robertson’s Adult Sunday School class. Clyde enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life. He was a skeet shooter in the Wildlife Action Inc. club, serving as Chaplin and earned the title of Champion Shooter. An avid fisherman all his life, he loved to fish the marshes and inlets of our area. In recent years, he turned to cooking. He made the best chicken bog in Horry County, which he lovingly cooked for family, friends and his skeet club, along with delicious pinto and lima beans. Next he turned to baking cakes. Clyde kept a notebook with all the cakes he ever baked. He made pound cakes, nut cakes, chocolate cakes and all kinds of delicious treats until he reached cake #200 shortly before his death. It was one of his famous lemon pound cakes. At that point, he announced he was through baking cakes.
Clyde is survived by his four children: Stacy Turner and husband Larry, Richard Capps and wife Coeleen, Gayle Berkey and husband Craig, and Christie Hoffner and husband Chip. Surviving grandchildren include Allyson Kreps, Christian Capps, Madison Capps, Lauren Berkey, Tyler Berkey, Rachel Troy, Nathan Hoffner, Thomas Currie, and Ian Hoffner. He is also survived by 8 great grandchildren. Clyde was predeceased by his wife,
Yvonne Simmons Capps, along with his parents, R. Clyde Capps, Sr. and Mamie. He also recently lost his younger brother, J. Harold Capps.
A special thank you to Ray of Help, LLC for their support and care in Clyde’s final days.
In lieu of flowers, Clyde requested donations be made to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation in honor of his great grandson, Milo. (8 Sorrento Drive, Osprey, FL 34229) He also requested donations to be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. (2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607).