Richard M. Wizar Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Richard M. Wizar (Middletown, Pennsylvania), who passed away on April 18, 2018, at the age of 76, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Richard M. Wizar to show support.
That baby eventually grew into a whopping 6' 4", 200 lbs man! He was a gentle giant who loved Jesus and considered his greatest gift to be his family. He is at the center of many childhood memories with not only his children and grandchildren but his nieces and nephews too. Walks to the Open Pit, climbing up the stone dump looking for fool's gold and hunting for deer, rabbit and pheasant (although he hated eating wild game) were some of the things he introduced the kids in his life to. While much of his education occurred in the great outdoors he also graduated from Cornwall HS in 1960 and later studied at F&M University. He enlisted and spent four years in the US Navy. (The running joke is he never once stepped foot on a boat in those four years!) His professional career started at Bell of Pennsylvania in 1964 as a lineman. He worked his way up into roles of increasing responsibilities and retired comfortably at age 50. On October 4, 1969 he married Sandra 'Sandy' Stipe Wizar of Middletown, PA. They had two children of their own – Shannon Wizar Schappell and Gregg Michael Wizar. They later adopted two more children – Yu-Hsuan Chen and Yu-Chuan 'May-May' Chen Leary. Although the family lived in 8 different homes over the years they almost always had a big yard and a swimming pool. That meant games like kickball, shark, softball, volleyball, paintball and countless others – always led by Dad. His life was filled with a myriad of joys but he also had his fair share of sorrow as well. Loved ones who made their way to heaven before him include his father Cyril and his mother, Mary, his brothers Cyril 'Beb' Wizar and Gabriel 'Gabe' Wizar, his niece Rebecca 'Becky' Walborn, his sisters Marion Wizar Walborn and Olga Wizar Stegmoyer and his daughter May-May. Left to carry on his memory are his wife Sandy, his daughter Shannon, his sons Gregg and Yu-Hsuan, his sisters Eleanora 'Ellie' Wizar Shoemaker and Rosalyn 'Rosie' Wizar Gaidos, his granddaughters Sydney Schappell and Olivea Chen, his grandsons Harrison Schappell, Elliott Schappell and Ozzi Chen, his nephews Mike Walborn, Gary Wizar and Jim Gaidos and his nieces Marlene 'Cookie' Wizar Clinton, Mary Jo Stegmoyer Bishop and Cindy Gaidos Sanger. He's undoubtedly sitting in heaven right now discussing Penn State football with Joe Paterno but the rest of us will be celebrating his life on Friday, April 27, 2018 at Cornwall United Methodist Church in Cornwall, PA. The celebration will begin at 10am EST. We'll start with a time of visitation and move into the Memorial Service. A luncheon will be provided at the church immediately following the service. Dick lived a great life full of family, friends, travel, leisure and work and with that we know there is probably no end to the memories and stories you may have shared with him. If you have a good 'Dick Wizar story' or warm memory you would like to share there will be time during the service to do so. If you aren't able to attend or would rather share privately the family would love to hear them all. Please reach out to any one of us via US mail, email or Facebook. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in his name to Cornwall United Methodist Church, PO Box 687 Alden Street, Cornwall, PA 17016.
