Obituary of Richard K. Darroch

Richard K. Darroch, 87, formerly of 12 Alburtus Ave., Bemus Point, died Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia, NY. He was born January 6, 1926 in Lockport, NY, a son of the late Alvin L. and Anna Willse Darroch, and attended Lockport public schools. Richard entered the U.S. Navy in December of 1943, serving during World War II, and retired as Petty Officer First Class July 23, 1965. Following his retirement from the Navy, he was employed in security by Calspan in Buffalo. He then became Camp Ranger of Camp Merz Boy Scouts Camp for 8 years and later worked in the mailroom of the former Chase Manhattan Bank in Jamestown for 9 years, retiring in 1989. Dick has also been a driver for Carrier Coach driving students. A communicant of St. Mary of Lourdes Church in Bemus Point, he was a life member of the VFW Post 557, member of the Fire Police Squad and past president of the Bemus Point Fire Department. He was also a past commander of the American Legion Post 1626 in Cheektowaga. Dick was a black powder weapons enthusiast and participated in many Black Powder Mountain Man Competitions. He is survived by two daughters, Diane C. Cervi of Gasport, NY and Debra A. (Michael) Wheeler of Lockport, NY; a stepdaughter, Ann K. (Bryan) Dahlberg of Bemus Point and three stepsons, Robert W. (Joan) Shephard of Magnolia and James A. (Cheryl) and Patrick J. (Carol) Shephard, both of Bemus Point; 17 grandchildren: Ronald (Heidi) Cervi, Nicole (John) Santasiero, Carrie (David) Dzierba, Sean Wheeler, Kim (Scott) Rowland, Wendy Shephard, Amy (Anthony) Galati, Tricia (Joseph) Mohney, Dr. Lindsay Shephard, Christine (Michael) Turecki, Matthew Schmidt, Katie Schmidt, Michael Schmidt, Paige Shephard, Seth Shephard, Jody (Peter) Conley and Joel (Jillian) Dahlberg; 24 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Gibney and Norma Jean Keleher, both of Lockport; three brothers, Thomas (Carol) Darroch of West Virginia, Alvin (Sylvia) Darroch of California, and Robert (Debra) Darroch of Florida; and a sister-in-law, Grace Darroch of Middleport, NY. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo Bollman Darroch, whom he married November 16, 1979 and who died October 27, 2008; and a brother, Nelson Darroch. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 2nd at St. Mary of Lourdes Church in Bemus Point. Rev. Todd Remick will be celebrant. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Bemus Point Fire Department, St. Mary of Lourdes Church or the Bemus Point Library.