Richard Dwayne Slater

Richard Dwayne Slater
of BinghamtonAt 8:38 a.m., Sunday, October 29, 2006, at the age of 71 he released the ties of earth to fly with the eagles in heaven...Richard was predeceased by his wife, Peggy; his parents, Harold Slater and Pearl (Harris) Sands; sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Donald Beauparlant; and his great-granddaughter, Emily Newhart. He is survived by his children, Sandra (Joseph) Stoeckel, Binghamton, Nicole Slater, Binghamton, Cindy (Robert) Woodward, Kirkwood, Kenneth W. Kasmarcik, Binghamton, Karen (Dar) Harvey, Binghamton, George (Kathy) Bickham, Kirkwood. He also leaves behind his grandson, Kenneth James, whom he adored and cared for as a son. He is survived by his sister, Lorraine (Donald) Brown, Apalachin, and her sons, Mick (Kate) Brown, Johnson City, Jeff (Kath) Brown, Apalachin, Steven (Sue) Brown, Johnson City, and Gregg (Pam) Brown, Apalachin. Richard leaves behind 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and caring friend, Georgia Boarman and her family. All of these people gave him joy and happiness and enriched his life. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, and spent eight years in the U.S. Air Force. He married Mary Rounds in 1958, and was a retired employee of Singer-Link Corporation in Kirkwood with 30 years of service. In 1980 he married Peggy Bickham and became the central father figure in a large family that he loved very much. Richard found great joy in family. He enjoyed bowling, camping, and fishing, but most of all he loved music and playing guitar. He spent countless hours of his life sharing his music with others, this was one constant that existed throughout his life. Some of his finest hours were those spent with his nephews making music. Although his last years were fraught with illness and hospitalizations, he wouldn't give up. He leaves us with this thought....Que sera, sera...what will be, will be.
Funeral Services will be held at the J.F. Rice Funeral Home, Inc., 150 Main St., Johnson City, Thursday at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. John R. Martinichio, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Binghamton, will officiate. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make memorial contributions to the Chenango Ambulance Service, 1135 Front St., Binghamton, N.Y. 13905, in Richard Dwayne Slater's memory.