Richard Sidney "Rich" Stroud

Richard "Rich" Sidney Stroud
KOKOMO, IN. - Richard "Rich" Sidney Stroud, 83, of Kokomo, IN, passed away at 5:36 pm Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Ascension St. Vincent-86th Street in Indianapolis. He was born on October 13, 1941, in Kinston, North Carolina, the son of the late Otto Clay and Helen (Settle) Stroud. On September 1, 1963, he married Dorothy "Doll" (Groet) Stroud in Grifton, North Carolina.
Rich was a 1959 graduate of Ayden High School. He was also a 1963 graduate of North Carolina State University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and was inducted into several honor societies, and fraternities, including Phi Kappa Tau. In his early career, Rich worked for Dupont in Kinston, NC and Seaford, DE. In 1968, Richard and Doll relocated to Kokomo, IN, where Rich retired from Delco Electronics after 33 years of service. While at Delphi, Rich invented many things, obtaining multiple patents, many of which are still held by General Motors today. Upon retirement, Rich remained an active member of the American Engineering Society (AES). Rich had a consulting firm, "Stroud Audio," for many years, traveling to places like Korea, Japan, Netherlands, and Singapore to teach others about Audio Design and Automotive Audio.
A long-time member of Shiloh United Methodist Church, Rich was a member of the choir and sang with "Touch of Sunday." - a local barbershop quartet. He contributed music in several plays at the Kokomo Civic Theatre, where he especially loved playing the guitar and bass. He wrote many songs, teaching his kids and grandkids the love of music. In the late 70's, he even won a contest at WWKI Kokomo with a song, "Twister." One of Rich's joys was being a HAM radio operator. He built HAM Radios with his father and communicated with people all around the world. 
Shortly before his passing, he became an organ donor, allowing others to live on through his generosity. This desire came from his charitable heart as a life-long blood donor, giving well over 20 gallons of blood through the years. The family has joked that whoever receives organ donations from Richard will suddenly have cravings for international cuisine and will desire to upgrade their speaker systems!
In addition to his wife Dorothy "Doll", Richard is survived by his son, Jonathan Stroud, his wife, Wendy, and their children, Hannah and Abigail of Charleston, SC; daughter-in-law, Wendy, and her children: Colton, Kaeleigh, Addy of McKinney, TX; and Richard's sisters, Elizabeth (Lib) S. Campbell (Husband, Tom) of Raleigh, NC; and Elaine (Laine) S. Lipson (Husband, Garry) of Pittsboro, NC.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents, and son, Michael Richard Stroud.
A service celebrating Rich's life will take place at 1 pm Monday, October 13, 2025, which would have been his 84th birthday, at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 5741 West 100 North, Kokomo, with Pastor Joe Johnson officiating. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the church from 11 am until the start of the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shiloh United Methodist Church, or We Care Kokomo. Burial will take place in the Stroud family plot in Ayden Cemetery-Ayden, NC. Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes & Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements.
We will celebrate Richard for a second time with our North Carolina Family and Friends at Ayden United Methodist Church on November 15, 2025, at 1pm, with a reception to follow in the Stroud Building. All are welcome!
Messages of condolence may be left online at http://www.shirleyandstout.com