Floyd "Richard" Carlson

Richard was born on January 24, 1932, in Clinton, IN, the son of Floyd and Florence (Vale) Carlson. He married Virginia Lea Lovell on January 2, 1953, in Paw Paw, IL.

Richard graduated from Clinton High School and started his engineering career at Rose Polytechnical Institute in Terre Haute. He and Virginia organized, and he taught the Young Couples Sunday School Class at Clinton First Baptist Church in the early 1950s. He was a member of Local 965 International Union of Operating Engineers as well as Divernon Lodge #1158 A.F & A.M. Richard worked as an operating engineer for S.J. Groves and Son Contractors. He was the volunteer general contractor when United Baptist Church in New Berlin constructed their building in the early 1970s. Richard enjoyed gardening and reading. As a boy, he loved camping and grew up in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He briefly led a Webelos troop in New Berlin.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Shirley Ann.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Lea Carlson of Riverton; son, Lawrence (Brenda Lee) Carlson of Springfield; daughters, Lynnette (Joni Lee Reagan) Carlson of Bloomington, IN, and Nancy (James Michael Heddleston) Carlson of Riverton; brother-in-law, James Edward Lovell; and sister-in-law, Betty Lou (David) Lovell Bergschneider.

Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Central Baptist Church, 600 W. Birch St., New Berlin, IL 62670. A Masonic Funeral Rite will begin at 11:00 a.m. and a Funeral Ceremony will follow.

Graveside Ceremony: 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Woodwreath Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Central Baptist Church, 600 W. Birch St., New Berlin, IL 62670 and The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, P.O. Box 271118, Flower Mound, TX 75027-1118.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – New Berlin, 714 E. Gibson St., New Berlin.