Richard "Dick" L. Kendrick

He was born July 31, 1930 in Knoxville, Tennessee and reared in Pressmen’s Home near Rogersville, Tennessee. Although he attended school for eleven years in Rogersville, he transferred to Hiawassee Junior College in Madisonville, TN where he graduated from their high school program in 1948. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio for two years before transferring to Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh where he graduated in 1953 with a BS degree in Printing Management.

In June 1954 he married Ruth Anne Oberer at the Pleasant Grove United Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, Ohio.

He was accepted in the officer candidate program for the Navy and attended school in Newport, RI before being commissioned Ensign in June 1954. He spent three years with the Navy working in communications at Atsugi Naval Air Station in Japan followed by two years in the Naval Reserve, one in Cleveland and one in Curwensville and left the service with the rank of Lieutenant.

On returning to the United States he was employed by the Edwards and Franklin/Steingass Litho Company in Cleveland, OH prior to moving to Clearfield in 1958. Locally he was employed as Production Manager for Kurtz Bros. until retirement in February 1996.

Over the years much of his life has been surrounded with live entertainment. While not a professional, he always enjoyed the music of his church where he sang and played piano, organ and keyboard for services. For a number of years he sang with a friend who personally arranged music for them. As a long time board member of the local concert association, he was instrumental in bringing first rate, New York Quality, live performances to Clearfield. In addition, he forged a link with neighboring associations so that local members could hear great shows in surrounding towns at no additional cost to them.

So much of this attention was directed to various aspects of Trinity United Methodist Church of Clearfield where for many years he was an elected Trustee, directed the Every-Member Fund canvases, cooked and was head of the church music program. Beginning before his four sons were old enough to participate, he was involved as a leader in the Cub Scout program and later was instrumental in trying to revitalize the Boy Scout program and lastly was briefly on the Bucktail Council for a total of about seventeen years’ service. When he retired, he headed a newly formed volunteer program, Trinity Cares, and personally did a great deal of the driving that took patients to doctors locally and out-of-town locations. With his own family health problems, he became familiar with hospital routines and locations and was able to assist people who were unfamiliar with cities and larger facilities.

In 1993, along with his wife, Ruth, he was selected as an Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bertha Kendrick and his son, Karl Kendrick.

Richard is survived by his wife Ruth and three sons; Richard, Jr., “Rick” and wife Jacki, Scott and companion Lorrie Gearhart all of Clearfield and Mark and wife Faith of Coopersburg, PA. In addition, he has four grandsons; Dalton, Collin and Aaron Kendrick and Scott Yeager and two granddaughters; Kory Baes and Jamie Tarver. Also four great grandchildren; Marshall and Jackson Tarver, Violet Baes and Rory Kendrick.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM with Dr. C. Frederick Ralston officiating.

Family suggests memorial contributions be made to Shaw Public Library, 1 South Front Street, Clearfield, PA 16830 or Clearfield Food Pantry, 212 Hammermill Road, Clearfield, PA 16830.

The Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc. of Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.

To send online tributes please go to www.bennettandhouser.com