Richard Roy Van Kluyve Sr.

1933 - 2018

Sunday evening on May 27, 2018, our precious Daddy was taken from our arms and placed in the arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He was surrounded by his family as he passed from this life to his Heavenly home he has so longed for. It is pretty fitting that our Daddy entered into the House of the Lord on Sunday, as that was one of his favorite places to be. He did not drop his family off at church, he took us. He had 2 passions that we remember, one being his family and being surrounded by them and his deep love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. Many Saturday nights we fell asleep to the tapping of the typewriter as he was preparing his Sunday School lesson for the next morning and we were awakened to the songs of the Gathers as we were getting ready for church.
Richard Roy Van Kluyve Sr. was born on January 17, 1933 to William and Adrianna Van Kluyve in Passaic New Jersey. He joined the Air Force in 1953 and served during the Korean War. He moved to Amarillo Texas and attended nursing school. During that time, he met and married the love of his life Mary Lee Hawkins on November 7, 1958. Richard attended Harris Hospital in Fort Worth Texas where he earned his Certified Registered Nurse of Anesthesia. After he graduated, he moved his family to Pampa Texas where he worked as a CRNA from 1965 until he moved to Plainview Texas in 1982. He purchased and ran the Roaring 50's Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop for 31 years. Richard is remembered for his quiet compassion to the students of Plainview High School. No student ever left his shop hungry. He would simply take a meal to the one who did not have one and go about his business.
Richard was met at Heavens gates by parents, Bill and Ada Van Kluyve, mother and father in law, Ruben and Violet Hawkins, his great nephew Eric Lee Van Kluyve, great grandson Ean Barnes and Pat Riddlebarger, his daughter-in- law's mother who was just welcomed into Heaven on May 1st.
His legacy lives on through his wife of 59 years, Mary Lee Van Kluyve of Amarillo, Tx., 3 children Janine Jones of Amarillo, Tx, Richard R. Van Kluyve Jr. and wife Lori of Hephzibah Ga., and Nicholas Van Kluyve of Amarillo, Tx. 6 grandchildren, Bailey Davis and husband Troy of Amarillo, Tx., Britney Sherley and husband Collin of Lubbock, Tx., Brennan Jones of Madison Heights, Mi., Cory Barnes and wife Samantha of Jacksonville Fl., Madelyn and Benjamin Van Kluyve of Hephzibah, Ga.. He has 7 great-grand children, Beau, Kennedy, and Jackson Davis of Amarillo, Tx., Aynsley and Barrett Sherley of Lubbock, Tx., and Elliot and Emma Barnes of Jacksonville Fl,. Brother Henry Van Kluyve and wife Virginia of Nashville, Tn., nephews and niece, Johnny, Richard, and Cindy Van Kluyve along with numerous nieces and nephews.
God our Father, Your power brings us to birth, Your Providence guides our lives, and by Your command we return to dust. Lord, those who die still live in Your Presence, their lives change but do not end. In company with Christ, who died, rose again, and now lives, may they rejoice in Your Kingdom where all of our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family to sing Your praise forever and ever. Amen.
IT IS WELL, WITH OUR SOUL
Memorial Service will be Sunday, June 10th at Boxwell Brothers Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX. 79109. At 3.00 p.m.