Lorraine, Roland and Roger Rumrill wish to announce the death of Richard K. Rumrill, husband, father and longtime member of the human race.

It does not seem right that Richard should have an ordinary obituary, when he himself was not an ordinary man. We will leave the ordinary for those who believe they are.

He was born in Westmorland, NH on October, 19 1933, the proud son of Harry and Lottie Rumrill. If only they knew what they were in for!

It took him a while to settle down and find someone who could see through his rough exterior and find the soft squishy part on the inside. Yes, he did have one. He found such a person in our mother, Lorraine. There bond lasted 52 years, not bad for beginners.

He dedicated more than 20 years of his life to military service retiring from the Air Force in 1975. His service made him a world traveler, seeing foreign lands like Japan, Thailand, England, South Korea and North Dakota; if you’ve been there you will understand the last one.

An avid snowmobiler, in his younger days, he spent many hours on the trails getting lost. Realizing there must be an easier way of finding his way home, he was a pioneer in the development of route 5 of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association’s trail system.

He was quick with a snide remark or an offbeat joke which was usually received like a spoiled turkey at Thanksgiving, but for those who knew him, that was his way of saying hi. He had no trouble telling you what was on his mind with no regard for your feelings. There was no pretense or façade you needed to break through. What you saw was who he was, like or dislike, it made no difference to him.

In death, as in life, he did things his way. He died November 9, 2014 from complications from a lung disease that he kept to himself for more than 2 years. He didn’t want your sympathy or to be seen as something other than whom he was, strong and independent. Many might think this act as selfish; however we believe it to be selfless. What we saw was a man who began to slow down with age; not someone who was dying. We were able to live our lives as we saw fit and not have the burden of his struggle with the disease.

Everyone who remembers him is asked to celebrate his life in their own way, lift a glass of your favorite beverage, tell a joke, remember time spent with him or reminisce about when he pissed you off. No flowers or cards, just a warm thought or a snide remark is all we ask.

Visiting hours will be held at the Charlestown Memorial Chapel, 34 Main Street on Friday, November 14^th from 5 to 7PM.

A memorial service will be held at 7 PM with Rev. Susan Grant Rosen officiating.

Burial will be held privately at a later date in Pine Crest Cemetery.

Donations may be made in his memory to the White River Junction VA Medical Center, 215 North Mina Street, White River Junction, VT 05009.