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Richard Lopez Obituary
Richard W. Lopez, 81, of Erie, died Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at UPMC Hamot, after an extended illness.
He was born May 23, 1933, in Erie, a son of the late Ricardo and Teresa Donatucci Lopez.
Richard attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Academy High School. He served in the United States Army, and worked at Jerilu Fruits for over 40 years.
He was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, and served on many committees there.
Throughout his life, Richard had numerous names such as Junior, Spanky, Lopes, Hee-Hi, Sifu, Joe, Dick, Joe Bananas, Papa and Papa Kung Fu. He touched many lives through the teaching of Martial Arts, and influenced many people with his lifelong friendships.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathy Lopez Loomis; a brother, Joseph Lopez; and two sisters and their spouses, Mary Eichner (Jerry) and Rose Gamble (Kenneth).
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Alice A. Abbey Lopez of Erie; two daughters, Lisa Lopez of Harborcreek and Linn Rater (Randy) of Waterford; one son, Ricky Lopez (Sandy) of Erie and dear friend who was also like a son, Michael DeMarco of Santa Fe; a nephew, Ken Gamble, a sister-in-law, Ruth Lopez of Erie and nine grandchildren, Aaron Lopez (Gina), Beth Ann Ploss (John), Katie Dream ford (Daniel), Allison Loomis, Emily, Jacob and Lucia Zamierowski, and Lindsey and Ryan Rater. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Dominic and Alaina Lopez and Jack Bradley Ploss, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m., and may attend a service there on Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart RC Church, 816 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16508, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Church.
To send condolences, visit www.orlandofuneralhome.com.
Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Lopez
M. Jessie Barczak
September 3, 2014
Surely he is teaching the angels Martial arts up in heaven!
Matthew Borczon
July 11, 2014
To the Lopez family, I offer you my prayers and good thoughts to you. Mr Lopez was a very kind man and his time spent teaching martial arts has had a huge impact on our local martial arts community. He will be missed by all of us.
Anna Serafini from Serafini's Restaurant
June 28, 2014
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Andrea Serafini-Maille
June 28, 2014
Lisa and family. I am sorry for your loss and may God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Patrick Cappabianca
June 27, 2014
Alice & Family,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of Joe, that's the way I always knew him. He was a great guy and I always enjoyed our conversations at St.Luke's school when he pick up the grandchildren.
He will always be alive in your memory and in the memories of his many friends. I will keep him in my prayers.
Luella
June 27, 2014
Mr. Lopez was a very kind man.
Phil Drexler
June 27, 2014
I cherish the times I spent with Mr. Lopez. His kindness, sincerity, and honor have left deep impressions on me. Beyond his teachings, his life is an inspiration to me.
I offer my condolences to his family.
Stephanie Longberg
June 27, 2014
Aunt Alice & Family,
There are really no words to take away the aching of a missed loved one, as you are so aware of already. Try to remember that he was loved by so many & you are being thought of and prayed for continuously. Uncle Joe will be so greatly missed in our family. Love you so much. <3 Stephie
Marie Wolf & family
June 26, 2014
Aaron, Gina & family....we love you and express our deepest sympathies. What an amazing man..and great papa. Our heart follows yours during this time.
Karla Bretz
June 26, 2014
Junior was an amazing person to work with at Jerilu. Though my time working with him was short, he certainly was able to make me laugh every day and brought a smile to my face. He will be missed!
June 26, 2014
Dick, was a great guy. You have my deepest sympathy. Tony Logue
Tom Koscelnik
June 26, 2014
Lopez family, Sorry for your loss. I remember Rich from our grade school days at Sacred Heart. He will be missed. RIP
Debbie Gerlock
June 26, 2014
Alice,Lisa and Linn,
So many years, so many memories, and I thank God for each and every one of them. Dick had a magical way of making life such fun, problems seem not so bad, his kindness and thoughtfulness were contagious. The love for his family was enormous. We are all so lucky to have known him.
Sending all of you prayers of comfort during this difficult time. Love you all.
Dick, you will always be in the hearts of many. R.I.P. dear friend.
Sarah Whitman
June 26, 2014
Junior Dick Spanky Lopez had a wonderful endearing presence. He worked hard, laughed often, and was always eager to help other people.
Jill Mikolajczyk Nolan
June 26, 2014
Dear Linn and Family, I am deeply sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Jill Mikoajczyk Nolan
Larissa (Missy) and John Smith (Harvey)
June 26, 2014
Spanky will forever remain in my heart. He has always been one of my very favorite people and he had a huge impact on my life. He has always been there for my family and I and my heart is just so heavy with his loss. Condolences, love and *HUGE HUGS* to his family and all of his loved ones. I hope he knows how much he meant to me. I take great comfort in knowing that the very last thing I said to him a couple of weeks before he passed was 'I love you'. His laughter was contagious, he was quick to instigate a smile and his heart was filled with love. He was literally one of the finest men I have ever known and one of my dearest friends. I will forever cherish my memories of him. He was a true blessing. Rest in paradise, Spanky. The stars will always shine a bit brighter now. Love never dies.
Sheila Rizzo
June 26, 2014
Dear "Pop's" Family, May the Lord be with you during this time. Thinking of you and may God Bless each of you.
Anna Allessie
June 26, 2014
Mrs. Lopez, Lisa, Linn,
I am so sorry for your loss. Dick had a way of filling a room with laughter . His smile was like a torch that lit up any dark spirits. May God Bless you .
Kloss Family
June 26, 2014
Dear Lopez Family,
I knew and worked with Richard at Jerilu years ago. He was an all around good decent guy. He was an exemplary admirable fellow as he was there to show the younger ones the right and positive way to go in life. You could not ask for a better or kinder person. It was an honor to know Richard and he will be truly missed by us all. He is at peace now in heaven and will forever be in all our hearts...Amen..God Bless you all..
Most Sincerely,
Vince Kloss&Family
Jerry Hayes
June 25, 2014
My young life was impacted by many significant events and people. My time spent at Dick's dojo was both. His kindness and patience with me as a young boy, the martial arts skills, the discipline he taught, were all important memories still with me now. My deepest condolences to the Lopez family. You are all in my prayers.
Joe celabrating his Birthday at Linnand Randy's house. It was also his granddaughter Lindsey's birthday.
June 25, 2014
Alice and family,
I am so very sorry for your lose. Joe was a wonderful man. Always happy telling jokes. I will never forget the cannon he would set off at our picnics. He will be missed! My deepest sympathy and you are in my prayers. Randy and Marion
Christine Gerlock
June 25, 2014
Mrs. Lopez, Lisa, and Linn,
My deepest sympathy to you and your families. Dad Lopez was one of the kindest and funniest people. He will be missed by many. Sending love and good thoughts to you.
Elaine Coyne
June 25, 2014
Joe was a great husband, father and friend. I remember the crazy things he would do and will always smile when I think of him.
Liza Ingle
June 25, 2014
Aunt Alice, I am so sorry for your loss. We will miss him dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Joe and Diane Martini
June 25, 2014
Alice,Linn and Lisa,
So very sorry to read about Dick. He was one of the funniest people we ever met and what a great smile. May you find comfort in all your wonderful memories with him.
Raffy Ilano
June 25, 2014
My Deepest Condolences to the Lopez Family
Raffy
June 25, 2014
My Deepest Condolences to the the Lopez family
Dick visits Santa Fe, NM
Mike DeMarco
June 25, 2014
jackie ciano
June 25, 2014
Rick, thoughts are with you and sandra. miss you
Randy Lopez
June 25, 2014
Uncle Jr. was a man I always admired and had a lot of respect for as an uncle, a family man, and just a great person. I always enjoyed being around him as I was growing up, and for a short time, working with him at JERILU's.
I have not seen Jr. for many years, and for that I am very saddened.
He is with my dad now, and 2 sisters. He will be dearly missed.
Joshua Abbey
June 25, 2014
Prayers for my brother Aaron and the Lopez Family. Papa Lopez, You were truly a kind and generous man. You will always be remembered, God Bless you.
Mike and Rick Geiser
June 25, 2014
Linn and family, sending heartfelt and loving condolences during these sad days. We hold you all in our hearts and prayers...
<3
Sarah DeGaris
June 25, 2014
Mr. Lopez you were absolutely wonderful. Thanks for spending time with me and always smiling. I will love and miss you forever.
June 25, 2014
Dear Alice, I am so sorry to hear of Dicks passing, we will keep him and your family in our prayers.
Amy Eisenberg
June 25, 2014
Sending my condolences to the family and friends of Dick Lopez. He was a kind and generous man who never failed to lift my spirits. May Peace be with you.
You will be missed.
Amy Eisenberg
June 25, 2014
Buzz Fatica
June 25, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I worked with Junior for a time at Jerilu. He always had great stories to tell. Even years after I had worked with him I would run in to him around town and we had some really nice conversations. He will be missed.
Tina Baker
June 25, 2014
To the Lopez family my deepest sympathy on the passing of such a wonderful man I enjoyed our little talks at Country Fair when I would see him buying his lottery tickets although most of them were losers as he would often tell me, I am saddened that I did not go get to see him while he was laid up but will always remember that wonderful smile RIP Spanky you will be missed...
Andrea Kensill
June 25, 2014
Linn, You and your family are in our thought s and prayers. Love, the Kensill's
June 25, 2014
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. I know your papa will be sadly missed. My prayers are with you during this tough time.
Love, Jackie Meinhart
Tony Flagella
June 25, 2014
Dick, I learned much about life from you. You will be missed.
Phyllis Zonno Ensani
June 25, 2014
To the Lopez Family,
So very sorry to learn of Dicks passing. He was a Gentle soul.
Our families go way way back.
We send our Love, Sympathy,
& Prayers
Sarah & Joe Rose
June 25, 2014
Alice & family,
We have sooo many wonderful memories of times shared with you, back when we were a part of that crazy group of people from SHS. What a difficult time this must be for you all. Please know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Aaron Lopez
June 24, 2014
You were like a father and a best friend. You have directly impacted the man I have become. I will not let you down.
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