John Richard "Dick" Coulter

John Richard "Dick" Coulter

AGE: 73 • Freehold Township

John Richard "Dick" Coulter, 73, of Freehold Township, died on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. Dick was born in San Diego, Calif. and had lived in Austin, Texas before moving to Freehold Township in 1977. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a double engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and worked for Texas Instruments, retiring in 1995. Dick served as third class petty officer in the U.S. Navy, as a navigator, and computer engineer. He was stationed at Pt. Mugu Naval Weapons Station, Pt. Mugu, Calif. during the Vietnam conflict. Dick was a jazz musician for much of his young life, playing in clubs in southern California. He played clarinet in the Los Angeles Junior Symphony, as a junior high school student and also played with notable musicians, including Little Richard. Dick was a mentor to high school students himself through Junior Achievers of America, while working at Texas Instruments. He was also active in Boys Scouts of America as a leader and advisor. Dick was a wonderful chef, reveling in preparing spectacular meals for parties, friends and family. He taught cooking classes and catered weddings on occasion.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Suzy; two children, a son, John Scott Coulter and his wife, Niguer of Sherman Oaks, Calif. and Sofia, Bulgaria, along with their son, John Tomas Coulter; a daughter, Jessica Stefany Coulter of Glenwood Landing, N.Y. and her children, Jordan Tyler Combs and Gavin Coulter Smith; Stefany's daughter, Sheridan Jean Coulter of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a nephew, Gregg Lee Coulter and his wife, Dayna Coulter of Austin and their children, Hailey and David Jackson Coulter; a cousin, Sonia Husa, of San Jose, Calif.; and many members of Suzy's large family in Nevada, California and Colorado.

Visiting will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Hope Lutheran Church, 211 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Dick may be made to the Karen Seifert-Campbell Scholarship Fund at Hope Lutheran Church. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.