NORWICH – Richard F. “Dick” Utter, 74, lifelong Norwich area resident, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday evening, May 9, 2010.
Born in Oxford in December of 1935, Dick was the son of Frank and Helen Lord Utter. He grew up in the Oxford area, where he attended and graduated from the local schools. Dick served as a member of the National Guard for a time, and was an employee of Unison and its predecessors in Norwich for 45 years. At the time of his retirement in the early 1990s, he was a Quality Assurance Inspector. Dick was a quiet man of few words who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and operating a ham radio for more than 60 years. He had bowled in the Norwich Commercial League for numerous years, and was very involved with the Norwich Fire Dept. and the Fire Police for over 40 years. His marriage to Clara Wilcox Utter ended with her death on May 28, 2009.
Dick is survived by his children and their spouses: Paul Utter and Linda Jones of Norwich, Scott Utter and Christina Babcock of Norwich, Frank Utter of Arizona, and Staff Sgt. Casandra Langstaff, stationed in Germany; and his grandchildren: Caitlin Utter, Devon Utter, Jessilee Portelli and husband Eric, and Morgan Babcock. Also surviving are Dick’s step-children and their spouses: Donald and Kim Bunce, Robin and Michele Bunce, and Ramar and Michele Bunce, all of North Hampton, Pa., and Bunni and Bob Laigaie of Midlothian, Va.; his sister, Jean Barber and her husband Bill of Alaska, brother Donald Utter and wife Brenda of Oxford; step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and cousins. In addition to his wife Clara, Dick was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Paino Drake in 1988; and his son, Michael Utter in 2005.
A memorial service for Dick will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Audrey Aiken of Norwich will officiate. Interment will follow in the J.D. Lewis Cemetery of Preston. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the service at 1 p.m. Members of the Norwich Fire Dept. will pay their respects in a group that morning.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Norwich Fire Dept., 31 East Main St., Norwich, NY 13815.