Richard A. Grubb

Richard was born 27 July 1978 at the Bloomington Hospital. Richard’s arrival in this world was extremely rough for which he had scars his entire life. Although he was paralyzed from just above the waist down at birth, it didn’t stop him from living an eventful and remarkable life. He would never complain about his disabilities, to the contrary, he would not let his physical limitations define what he could be. Beginning with his elementary education at Grandview, he participated in the regular physical education programs at the school. When he was eight and nine years old, he was a soccer player at the Boys and Girls Club. He was his team’s goalie for two seasons. He wasn’t able to stand in goal, so he would lie in the center of the goal with his legs under him or behind him towards the net, using his arms as his legs and head balls away that came towards goal. He thought it was great fun. As a result of his paralysis, his vehicle through most of his life was his wheelchair and it was the genesis of his preferred moniker “Lo-Ryde”. He could be seen anywhere in Bloomington when he went out for a push. During the summer, it wasn’t unusual to see him pushing down the sidewalk with his shirt off, soaked with water, either draped over his shoulders or on the top of his head for cooling support.

Richard graduated from Bloomington North High School in 1996. He also attended the Recording Workshop, Chillicothe, Ohio, completing their core program. Richard had a life-long love of music. As a youth, he played the drums on Sundays at Bethel AME Church. In his adult years he composed and recorded music in his home studio. All of his music was written and created by his alternate ego “Lo-Ryde”.

Richard loved his family. Richard was the family peacemaker, the mediator, the facilitator and the family clown. Holidays, birthdays, or any family gathering were his venue to showcase his comedic skills and his compassion when a family member was experiencing some type of distress or misfortune. Most of all he helped his family move through the tough times.

Richard had so many friends. He was an accepting and compassionate person. He chose always to see the good in people and not judge them. Just as he was with his family, he was someone who could empathize with another’s problems and help them through their time of need. His mother always said that Richard was a member of God’s Army, placed here to impact anyone he met.

Richard’s immediate family was his pets, Keanu and Henry. They were his best friends. He actually birthed Keanu in January 2000 and they were together for 15 years until Keanu passed away in 2015. Keanu would take Richard for walks as it wasn’t unusual to see Keanu pulling Richard in his wheelchair down the street. Richard found Henry in a tree right outside his apartment and they were together until Richard’s passing. Henry was definitely a blessing in Richard’s life as he provided companionship and humor. Henry and Richard were definitely made for each other because they were really very much alike, being both serious and silly at almost the same time.

Richard also loved the challenge of electronics and what it could do to enhance the quality of video and sound. He was constantly reprogramming his parent’s television, sound and computer systems much to their dismay as they had no clue to what he had done. Their concern was met by “trust me I know what I’m doing!” He was always right, but it didn’t stop them from asking a slew of questions about situations that had a low probability of happening. His home studio was a maze of wires that only he would have known what direction the electrons were going.

His other loves were watching the Simpson’s, shows about the Universe and movies, all kinds of movies. Richard would spend hours soaking in the knowledge he learned from the Universe series of videos and then talk to his father about what he learned. Although he loved movies, the Simpson’s were definitely at the top of his video and TV watching. He was a huge fan and had probably seen every episode.

Richard is survived by his parents Michael John and Armiller Grubb, his sister, Teresa Marie Grubb McKenzie, his older brother, Michael John Grubb Jr., his nephews, James McKenzie and Justin McKenzie, his Grandfather, Vernon Dale Grubb, and Henry Grubb, his inquisitive cat. Preceding him in death were his maternal grandmother, Idealor Hudson, his maternal step-grandfather, Pete Hudson, his maternal grandfather, Sam Bell Jr. and his paternal grandmother, Nancy Grubb. He was also preceded in death by his beautiful dog, Keanu Grubb.

Visitation for Richard will be held in Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 302 N. Rogers St. Bloomington, IN from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2016. His funeral service will be held in the church on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com

Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.