Richard Bruce Caldwell, 69, of Mechanicsville, Maryland and formerly of Waldorf, Maryland passed away on September 19, 2013 at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland. He was born on May 22, 1944 in Youngstown, OH, son of the late Ralph Berwin Caldwell and Helen Graham Caldwell.
Richard is survived by his former wife, Jean, and their children, Alan Caldwell and his wife Sara and their two daughters Reilly and Campbell, his daughter Andrea Arnett and her husband Jon and her children, Ashley Johnson and Philip and Amber Workman and Amber’s son, Jeffrey. Also survived by his youngest daughter, Allison Avey and her daughters Krista and Karmen.
Richard was predeceased by Richard Cramer and John Kovach and his nephew John “Tookie” Kovach but leaves his sisters Shirley and her husband Joe Rendano, Janice and John Richards, Ruth Cramer, Nancy Kovach and one brother Ralph Caldwell and his wife Terry plus numerous nieces and nephews. Richard was also survived by his longtime loving companion Rosanne. He embraced her huge Saulsbury clan as his own. He became a caring friend to her son Tom Perkins and his wife Charlotte and her son Keith Perkins. Tom and Charlotte’s children “T" and Tara became his “grandchildren”.
Richard graduated from Lincoln High in Midland, PA and joined the Air force soon after high school serving in Viet Nam. He was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base and Maryland became his home. As a young man he attended college classes, worked for Brody Brothers and Safeway, but his dream was to own his own business. In 1977 he fulfilled that dream by opening a 7-11 in Bannister Neighborhood in St. Charles. “Mr. C’s" 7-11 became the go to spot for coffee, hot dogs and Slurpees or just to chat. He coached basketball and soccer, sponsored numerous teams, loved his customers dearly and watched a generation of kids grow up.
Richard loved his Redskins, Ohio State and soccer. Richard moved to Mechanicsville and soon purchased the Charlotte Hall 7-11 where again he knew most of his customers by name and loved them all.
Friends will be received for Richard’s Life Celebration on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 from 2:00 - 4:00 and 6:00 - 8:00p.m. at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD. A funeral service will be held at 7:00p.m. Rev. James Chance will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Praying for Gianna Grace c/o Brenda Bussey, 36688 West Lakeland Drive, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.
[S4] Obituary.
MECHANICSVILLE, MD. – Richard “Dick” Bruce Caldwell, 69, passed away on Sept. 19, 2013, at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Md. He was born on May 22, 1944, in Youngstown, a son of the late Ralph and Helen (Graham) Caldwell.
He grew up on the north side of Youngstown, attending Harding Elementary, Hayes Junior High and The Rayen School. In his youth, he worked as a Vindicator newspaper carrier, worked at Isaly’s at Bissell and Elm Street, and attended the First Presbyterian Church. After moving to Midland, Pa., he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1963. He later served in the U.S. Air Force and had a tour of duty in Vietnam.
For over 35 years, he owned and operated a 7-Eleven convenience store in Maryland. “Mr. C.’s” 7-Eleven became a go-to spot in the community, and Richard was known for his exceptional customer service and community involvement. He knew many of his customers by name, coached basketball and soccer, and sponsored numerous sports teams. He loved his Redskins, Ohio State and soccer.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Roseanne Stayrook of Mechanicsville; one son, Alan (Sara) Caldwell of Cary, N.C.; two daughters, Andrea (Jon) Arnett of Ludlow Falls and Allison Avey of Dayton; seven grandchildren, Reilly, Campbell, Ashley, Philip, Amber, Krista and Karmen; and one great-grandson, Jeffery. He leaves four sisters, Shirley (Joe) Rendano, Ruth Cramer, and Nancy Kovach, all of Youngstown, and Janice (John) Richards of Hubbard; one brother, Ralph (Terry-Ann) Caldwell of Atlanta; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former wife, Jean Caldwell; Keith Perkins; and Tom and Charlotte Perkins and their children, “T” and Tara, all of Waldorf, Md.
He was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Richard Cramer and John R. Kovach Sr., and a nephew, John R. Kovach Jr.
A Life Celebration was held on Sept. 24, at the Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home in Charlotte Hall, Md., with interment to be held on Oct. 2, at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, Md. Please visit www.brinsfieldecholsfuneral.com to send condolences to the family.
1944 - 2013 (69 years)
Siblings
. Andrea Beth CALDWELL, b. Abt 1968 (Age 56 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set