Richard Elmer Bodiker

Richard “Dick” Bodiker left this life on August 31, 2014. He was born in Bethel Township, Ohio to Elmer and Elizabeth Bodiker on June 3, 1925.

Dick is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis; sons, Gary, Thomas, and Jeffrey of Concord, NC and Dale of Sarasota; and daughter, Catherine of Venice, FL. He will be lovingly remembered by his 12 grandchildren, Cory, Brian, Melissa, Jessica, Erica, Evana, Ciara, Michael, Skye, Tony, Danielle, and Amber; and his 7 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Evan; grandson, Justin; brother, William; and sister, Betty Emig.

Dick was a member of the Model A Restorers Club, Florida Flywheelers and the Flywheel Flivers, Sarasota South Elks Club 2495, American Legion Post 320, and The Packard Club. Dick left high school in 1943 and joined the Navy and was aboard the Destroyer Escort Harold C. Thomas in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he was in the construction business in Ohio and after moving to Florida, he was employed by SMH as Construction Supervisor for over 20 years.

Memorial Service will be held at Sarasota National Cemetery on Fri, Sept 26 at 1:00pm with a gathering of family and friends after the service. The family requests memorial donations in Dick’s name to be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Tennessee or a charity of their choice.

Dick will be remembered as a happy, smiling, wonderful man who always made life better for everyone he ever met. He loved his antique cars and his flywheel engines and working on them. Anyone could come to him and he always was there to help. He was just a great guy.

Arrangements entrusted to Palms - Robarts Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Sarasota, FL.