Obituary for Richard W "Dick" England
Richard W. “Dick” England, 82, of Painesville Township, passed away Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, at UH Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby from complications after gallantly battling a bone marrow disorder.
He was born July 14, 1940, in North Plainfield, N.J.
Dick was always a good athlete, graduating from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey Class of 1958, where he was a State Wrestling Champ, catcher on the baseball team and his high school football team won the State Championship. He later became a better than average golfer and fisherman. Dick attended the University of Miami in Florida on a football scholarship and later attended Newark Tech College. He also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1971.
His career was spent in the plastic industry, working for companies as marketing manager and regional sales manager for Celanese, Northern Petrol Chemical a Division of Enron and A. Shulman. He was also the President of the Society of Plastic Engineers. After retiring, Dick drove a school bus for Painesville Riverside. He loved that job, especially taking the sports teams to events.
Additionally, he was President of the Pebble Creek Crossing Home Owners Association for 25 years, an honorary member of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce, where you could find him and Susan cooking hotdogs on the turn at the annual golf outing for more than 20 years, and President of The Euclid Conservation Club for 25 yrs. He had a knack for problem solving, bringing people together and being non-judgmental.
Even though his spinal cord injury 14 years ago limited his abilities, Dick kept his smile and love for the outdoors and adventure. Turkey hunting became a passion. Susan and Dick continued to travel by car, plane and cruise ship making wonderful memories. Dick praised the Lord in good times and difficult ones. Always leaning on his faith. His smile, good nature and loving spirt will be missed by many.
Dick is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan (nee Watkins) England; daughters, Dianne (husband, Nick) England Bottiggi, Carolyn (husband, Dave Cost) England Garmon; sons, Rich (husband, Bill Knox) England and David (Holly) England; the mother of his children, Roseanne Eodice England; brother, William England; sister-in-law, Connie Watkins Kozan; niece, Shannon (husband, Nick) Kozan Lucarelli; nephew, Larry England Jr.; grandchildren, Ryan England, Natalie Garmon, John Garmon, Nicholas Bottiggi, Dominick Bottiggi, Louis Bottiggi, Michael Bottiggi, Devyn Lafaye-England, Colin LaFaye and Olivia Mack; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and Mary (nee Hamilton) England; and brother, Larry England.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, 6330 Center St. (Route 615, north of Route 2), in Mentor. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Painesville United Methodist Church, 71 N. Park Place, Painesville. Burial will follow the service at Mentor Cemetery.
To leave condolences for the family or order flowers, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
He was born July 14, 1940, in North Plainfield, N.J.
Dick was always a good athlete, graduating from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey Class of 1958, where he was a State Wrestling Champ, catcher on the baseball team and his high school football team won the State Championship. He later became a better than average golfer and fisherman. Dick attended the University of Miami in Florida on a football scholarship and later attended Newark Tech College. He also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1971.
His career was spent in the plastic industry, working for companies as marketing manager and regional sales manager for Celanese, Northern Petrol Chemical a Division of Enron and A. Shulman. He was also the President of the Society of Plastic Engineers. After retiring, Dick drove a school bus for Painesville Riverside. He loved that job, especially taking the sports teams to events.
Additionally, he was President of the Pebble Creek Crossing Home Owners Association for 25 years, an honorary member of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce, where you could find him and Susan cooking hotdogs on the turn at the annual golf outing for more than 20 years, and President of The Euclid Conservation Club for 25 yrs. He had a knack for problem solving, bringing people together and being non-judgmental.
Even though his spinal cord injury 14 years ago limited his abilities, Dick kept his smile and love for the outdoors and adventure. Turkey hunting became a passion. Susan and Dick continued to travel by car, plane and cruise ship making wonderful memories. Dick praised the Lord in good times and difficult ones. Always leaning on his faith. His smile, good nature and loving spirt will be missed by many.
Dick is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan (nee Watkins) England; daughters, Dianne (husband, Nick) England Bottiggi, Carolyn (husband, Dave Cost) England Garmon; sons, Rich (husband, Bill Knox) England and David (Holly) England; the mother of his children, Roseanne Eodice England; brother, William England; sister-in-law, Connie Watkins Kozan; niece, Shannon (husband, Nick) Kozan Lucarelli; nephew, Larry England Jr.; grandchildren, Ryan England, Natalie Garmon, John Garmon, Nicholas Bottiggi, Dominick Bottiggi, Louis Bottiggi, Michael Bottiggi, Devyn Lafaye-England, Colin LaFaye and Olivia Mack; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and Mary (nee Hamilton) England; and brother, Larry England.
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, 6330 Center St. (Route 615, north of Route 2), in Mentor. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Painesville United Methodist Church, 71 N. Park Place, Painesville. Burial will follow the service at Mentor Cemetery.
To leave condolences for the family or order flowers, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.