Mr. Richard D. Sammons

Richard "Dick" D. Sammons, 88, of Berrien Springs, Michigan, passed from this life at 8:02 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.

Dick was born July 28, 1937, in Tracy, Minnesota, the son of Clarence M. and Helen C. (Keleher) Sammons. On December 27, 1955, he married the love of his life, Wilma K. Smith. Together, they would share 69 wonderful years of marriage filled with love and happiness.

Dick joined the United States Navy in 1955, where he received training to become a Nuclear Engineer and worked on nuclear submarines. He was honorably discharged after 20 years of service. He then went to work for D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman, Michigan, where he worked as a Maintenance Supervisor until his retirement in 1995.

Everyone who knew Dick knew he loved to run, travel, and meet people. He would incorporate his competitive racing during his many travels around the world, and everywhere he ran, people knew him as the man that carried a backpack of water. The mileage he accumulated while running would have been enough to circumnavigate the earth twice. Also, he never met a stranger and would talk to everyone he met, wherever he was.

He also enjoyed putting together puzzles, woodworking, and building electronic equipment. He built TVs, pool tables, ping pong tables, and loved to take things apart and put them back together again just to see what made them tick.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma; children, Timothy (Carol) Sammons of Austin, Texas, Anthony Sammons of Columbus, Indiana, Cynthia Caldwell of Berrien Springs, Michigan, Deborah (Derek) Butler of Coloma, Michigan; grandchildren, Ryan Sammons, Shannon Sammons and Zeth Caldwell; six great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren with number nine on the way; sister, Mary Ann (Gary) Mentjes of Alexandria, Minnesota; brother, John (Pat) Sammons of Hastings, Minnesota; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Susan Sammons; son-in-law, Ben Caldwell; brother, Bill and his wife Genny Sammons; brother, David and his wife Helen Sammons.

In keeping with the family's request, cremation will take place, and no memorial service is planned at this time. Memorial donations may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus, Indiana at https://www.ourhospice.org/donations/.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with Dick's family at barkesweaverglick.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.