Richard Kern

Richard Robert "Dick" Kern, of Davidson, completed a life well-lived on August 27, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Always a family man first, he was also a terrific athlete and successful businessman. Dick touched many during his 82 years and set a great example to all as a son, brother, husband, father, papa, employee, boss, and friend.
Dick was born in Abington, PA. on January 12, 1942, a month after Pearl Harbor. His parents, Bud and Beck Kern raised him, his brother Dave, and his sister Barb by example, instilling them with integrity, honesty, hard work, love, and family loyalty. They also made him a lifetime Phillies and Eagles fan, which would often require patience.
At the College of William and Mary, Dick met the love of his life, Sharon Elizabeth Cosminsky, on a blind date in 1962. They married on August 28, 1965, in Falls Church, Va and began building a life together in Richmond, VA. Dick and Sharon began a family in 1969 with the birth of their first son Scott and completed the family in 1973, when Michael arrived. The family spent time in Richmond and Hendersonville, TN, before setting in Greensboro, NC, in 1979, a place Dick and Sharon would call home for 42 years.
Dick was very active with his son's sports enjoying countless soccer games, swim meets and football games. The boys learned to love sports from their father, and he spent many afternoons and evenings throwing passes to them in the front yard or shooting basketballs in the driveway. Dick was also a leader in the Boy Scouts, PTA, and Booster Clubs.
In 1984, after years of family Ocean Drive beach vacations, Dick bought a big conversion van and began infamous family road trips. He was determined that his sons travel the USA first. Our family took many multi-week summer vacations to countless National Parks, historic cities, Disney World, and even on a cruise to the Bahamas. There was a Roots trip to important family spots, a Battlefield trip, one up the east coast to NYC and Boston and into Canada and always included stops to visit family along the way. The stories from these trips and listening to the Jerry Clower 8-track tape are family lore. AAA Triptik's were our guide, and the boys laugh remembering staying in the Motel 6's and paying the extra $5 for the key to the TV to watch the baseball All-Star game. During those years the van doubled as a transport for Boy Scout trips, including the times it was used as a camper by the scouting dads when the weather was cold or wet and the boys they led didn't have that choice. That van didn't get to retire when Scott and Michael graduated from high school. Its 2nd life was as the tailgating vehicle for Clemson games, golf outings and trips with friends. After staying stateside all those year, overseas travel with trips to Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand, S.E. Asia, Alaska, and Hawaii began for Dick and Sharon. Dick's height and bright orange Clemson hat always made him easy to spot in a group of travelers!
In 2002, Dick's first grandson was born and so was "Papa"! He was commander-in-chief of Nathan, Benjamin and Sammy and nothing was too much for him to do. With Nathan he talked airplanes, with Benjamin he was in the shed building B's latest project, and with Sammy it was all about throwing and catching a ball. He hiked mountains, toured caverns, rode bicycles, toured historic areas, cannonballed into the pool, watched Tom and Jerry – whatever the boys wanted to do, he was there!
Growing up and throughout his life Dick was a terrific athlete, starring in football and baseball at William Tennent High School and earning a scholarship for football to the College of William and Mary. In High School he was known as "Head" because he was captain of the football team and student body president. At William and Mary, he became "The Outlaw" because of his interception skills in football. He was the national leader in interceptions his senior year and had the privilege of playing for an at that time unknown backfield coach, Lou Holtz. Despite his success on the field, Dick always lamented the "one that got away" a near interception off Heisman winner, Roger Staubach, that he said almost singed his hands when it went through them. After college Dick played on the Fort Eustis Army base team traveling around the country and even playing in the 1964 Missile Bowl. He continued his love of baseball after college with the DuPont baseball team and then the church league softball team with his friends and sons.
Dick was not afraid of hard work and gave it his all no matter what job he had. As a young boy he delivered the Philadelphia Bulletin and was later a stockboy for the local Acme Supermarket after hours. He drove a mail truck during the holidays with right side controls and open cabin on the Schuylkill Expressway and got into dirty work with the Warminster water and sewer authority.
At William and Mary, Dick majored in Government, was in Army ROTC, and was President of Pi Kappa Alpha. After graduating, Dick served his commitment to the U.S. Army in the Transportation Corps and was stationed at Ft. Eustis, VA. After completing his service, Dick joined DuPont in Richmond, VA, and later Hendersonville, TN. The family moved to Greensboro and lived there 42 years. Dick was President of CCW Group (Central Carolina Warehouses), a public warehouse system with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. He was later Legal Administrator for Carruthers & Roth, P.A. and finished his career assisting the Senior Pastor at Christ Church. Dick was known for being fair to all and wasn't on the sideline when physical jobs were needed. He rolled up his sleeves and pitched in – he was more than the boss – he was a partner in the job.
In the Greensboro community he loved, Dick served as President of his Kiwanis Club where he was a George F. Hixson Fellow, was on the board of the Greensboro Housing Coalition and Goodwill and was active with Leadership Greensboro. At Christ United Methodist Church, he was chairman of the Trustees and the Staff Parish committee, active in the Cokesbury Sunday School Class and the leader of the young adult Sunday School Class. In 2011, Dick was honored to escort 3 World War II veterans to the War Memorials in Washington, DC as part of the Flight of Honor. He always considered this one of the best days of his life.
Three years ago, Dick and Sharon moved to The Pines at Davidson. A year and a half ago, Dick moved into Skilled Nursing Care as his health declined and he won the hearts of all the wonderful caregivers there. Hospice stepped in the last few days and Dr. Ronnie Beamon was the perfect doctor to help the family through this transition.
Dick is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sharon Cosminsky Kern, sons Richard Scott (Annette) of Kirkland, WA, and Michael David (Stacey) of Davidson, sister Barbara Kern Wales (Dennis) of Downingtown, PA, sisters-in-law Sandra McNeill Kern of Salisbury, NC, Laurie Smith Blaine of Warwick, NY., and Betty Cave Cosminsky of Mobile, AL., grandsons Nathan Kern, Benjamin Kern and Samuel Kern of Davidson, and special nieces and nephews and their families. Dick was the Patriarch of the Kern Clan, and he took great pride and responsibility in that role. He was predeceased by his parents, Claude and Mildred Kern, brother David Kern, in-laws Philip and Susie Cosminsky and brother-in-law Gene Cosminsky. To quote a former employee of Dick, he was a kind, gentle man of deep faith, honesty, and integrity – that says it all.
There will be celebrations of life services at The Pines of Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, NC 28036, on Thursday, September 5 at 3 pm and at Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N. Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 24710 on September 20 at 1 pm.
Donations can be made to Christ United Methodist Church, 410 N. Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410; The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, NC 28036; Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001; Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306, or the charity of your choice.