Richard D. Kemp

1937 - 2017

Richard D. Kemp, 79, of Latrobe, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Latrobe Area Hospital. Born Oct. 15, 1937, in Wellsville, N.Y., he was a son of Oliver I. and Margaret (Powers) Kemp. He was preceded in death by his father, Oliver, and mother and father-in-law, Glenora and Sylvester Pelton. He is survived by his mother, Margaret; loving wife of 58 years, Lois E. (Pelton); daughter, Debra Althoff; son, Douglas R. (Christine); and grandchildren, Lisa and Thomas Althoff and Dalton, Evan and Logan Kemp. Richard was a 1955 graduate of Andover Central School. He played trombone in the dance and marching bands and lettered in baseball and track. He earned a diesel engineering degree from Alfred State College and continued his education at Corning Community College and the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, he worked at Worthington Corp. as a sales engineer. He continued that same career path at Ingersoll-Rand and, in 1965, at Elliott Co., then until 1982 at GE Apparatus Division in West Mifflin. He was a past deacon, elder and choir member at West Hempfield Presbyterian Church. He was a volunteer fireman in Andover and Painted Post, N.Y. He was a member of the Norristown Mason Lodge and belonged to the EMEA and AISE engineering societies. He was a current member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greensburg. Richard was diagnosed in 1960, at the age of 23, with multiple sclerosis. Even though his illness was a shadow over his life, he never allowed the disease to define him. He defied all the odds and, with great faith in God, pressed on and enjoyed success in career and home life. Lois will be the first to tell you how lucky she was to be Richard's wife. He was a kind spirit who loved his friends and family and was known for his positive attitude and quick, "dead pan" wit. He was always able to find the humorous side of any situation.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1120 Harvey Ave., Greensburg, PA 15601. Friends will be received from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the National MS Society, PA Keystone Chapter, 1501 Reedsdale St., Suite 105, Pittsburgh, PA 15233; or to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1120 Harvey Ave., Greensburg, PA 15601. Arrangements are by Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Inc., 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109.