Richard Lyle Kilgore, 79, cherished and loving husband, father, and “Opa” died Thursday, December 5th at Azalea House at Meadowood in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
Dick was born on January, 28, 1934 in Fresno, California. He was the son of Lyle Maxwell Kilgore and Pearl Spoor. Dick loved being outdoors; he grew up with the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite in his back yard. In his childhood he took many fishing and camping trips to the Sierras with his father and brother Jim. He played football, was a newspaper carrier for the Fresno Bee, and graduated from Fresno High School in 1952.
After high school Dick enlisted in the Navy. He served as a seaman and electrician on the USS Kula Gulf and was then stationed in Bayonne, New Jersey. After being honorably discharged, Dick enrolled at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. While at Wagner he met the love of his life, Heike Schander. They both graduated in 1962 and were married in Pond Eddy, New York on September 8, 1962.
When they were first married, Dick and Heike lived in Bloomfield, New Jersey where Dick worked as a Chemist at Best Foods. They then moved to Norwich, New York when Dick joined Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals (now Procter & Gamble) as a Microbiologist. His career spanned 34 years during which he had the opportunity to travel to South America and Europe. He loved those trips, taking the opportunity to immerse himself in the language, culture, and cuisine. He especially enjoyed his repeat trips to Italy, Germany, and France.
Dick was an avid fly fisherman who spent many hours fishing the lakes and streams around Norwich and in the Black Forest Colony in Glen Spey, New York. He also loved skiing and was a member of the Labrador Mountain National Ski Patrol for 34 years. He taught his children to ski when they were very young and the family spent most winter weekends at the mountain. His family has fond memories of Labrador: camping in the patrol room, dinners in the ski lodge, and après ski fellowship with other Patrol families.
Dick was a devoted husband, father, and Opa who valued family above all. He was a kid at heart, with a great sense of humor. Outgoing and fun, he loved meeting and talking to people and could make friends anywhere he went. He delighted in singing songs at the top of his lungs and telling corny jokes to his children and grandchildren. Dick loved to dance; he and Heike could always be seen “cutting a rug” on the dance floor at parties and weddings.
Dick and Heike lived in Norwich for 50 years. They loved the small town atmosphere and community, and treasured the many deep and lasting friendships they made there. They moved to Meadowood retirement community in April of 2013.
Besides his parents, Dick was predeceased by his mother- and father-in-law Margot and Gus Peterson; his aunt and uncle Marie and Horace Jones; and life-long friend Rolf Stensrud.
Left to cherish his memories are Heike Kilgore, his loving wife of 51 years; his children: Karin Kilgore-Green and her husband George, of Glens Falls, New York; Jim Kilgore and his wife Tiffany, of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania; and Kristin Kilgore Kuntz and her husband Stephen, of Randolph, New Jersey; his grandchildren: Kaitlin and Emma Green; Carly, Brian, Griffin and Aubrey Kilgore; and Matthew Kuntz. He is also survived by his brother Jim Kilgore and his wife Gale, of California; nephew Brian Kilgore and his wife Jenny, of Nevada; niece Jamey Robinson and her husband John, of California; nephew Scott Kilgore and his wife Sheri, of California; and many special and dear friends.
At a future date, the family will host a celebration of Dick’s life in Norwich, New York and then return his ashes to his beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains.
For those wishing to remember Dick in a special way, the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware Valley Chapter, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or www.alz.org.
The family sends a special thank you to the Azalea House staff at Meadowood who gave Dick such wonderful and loving care.
Visit rlwilliamsfuneralhome.com to share a memory or send a condolence.