MOUNT VERNON – Richard L. Cline, 60, of Mount Vernon, passed away peacefully on Jan. 12, 2021, at his home in Mount Vernon. His heart was tired and he was ready for a new adventure. He was born on Jan. 21, 1960, to Thomas Eugene Cline and Maxine Carol Reed in Millersburg.
Richard was a loving husband, devoted father, superb paw-paw, a great friend to many, a storyteller extraordinaire and in his younger days a successful outdoorsman — hunting, trapping, fishing and growing many things. He was a proud U.S. Navy veteran, serving on the USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30), a Thomaston-class ship. Rich quite enjoyed the humor and appropriateness of the LSD acronym.
After leaving the Navy, Richard pridefully worked 36 years at Ariel Corporation in Mount Vernon as a talented CNC machinist; he retired in 2017. Richard was grateful to work alongside his father Thomas at Ariel Corporation for over twenty years and eventually with his own son Tom for thirteen years. Richard and his son Tom shared many lunches (lovingly packed by Darlene, of course) at a picnic table built by Thomas some 30 years prior. In Rich’s words: “How much luckier and more proud could a guy be?”
Richard delighted in knowing that he provided for his family and loved watching them all grow and succeed. In his retirement years, he loved spending time with his grandchildren playing in the yard, fishing or watching them play at any number of sporting events. His guidance, intelligence, humor, storytelling, laughter and larger-than-life presence will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his children, Justin Cline of Danville, Tom (Alison) Cline of Fredericktown and Kayla (Christopher) Kiser of Mount Vernon; his beloved grandchildren, Vincent Kiser, Gabriel Kiser, Nina Kiser, Giovanni Cline and Jayda Cline; mother, Maxine Reed of Danville; step-mom, Carolyn Cline of Mount Vernon; sisters, Shelly (Bob) Vertrees of Danville and Heather (Michael) Koczorowski of Toledo; brothers, Ron (Judy) Cline of Danville and Jeff (Paula) Rudrick of Mount Vernon; and special adopted brothers, Herschel (Lisa) Jones of Mount Vernon and Oscar (Lisa) Jones of Indiana.
Richard was predeceased by his father, Thomas Eugene Cline; and his beloved wife, Darlene Cline.
Richard bravely battled Lewy body dementia for at least five years. To help find a cure for this horrible disease, please donate to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org/donate.
Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. - noon on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Lasater Funeral Home, with a funeral service at noon.
The Lasater Funeral Home is handling the services for the Cline family. To leave a condolence or share a memory, please visit www.lasaterfuneralhomes.com.
