Richard Melvin Klingensmith

Mr. Richard Melvin Klingensmith, age 81, of Waycross, passed away Thursday afternoon (12/31/20) at his daughter’s residence following an extended illness.

He was born September 15, 1939 in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, where he grew up and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy for 6 years. He served as a firefighter on the USS Ingraham.  He moved to southeast Georgia in 1975 and had lived in both Pierce and Ware County. He was a retired truck driver, having been the owner of RK Trucking.  He and his wife had attended Kettle Creek Southern Congregational Methodist Church in Waycross.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca “Becky” Clark Klingensmith; his father and step-mother, Cyrus and Doris Nesbitt Klingensmith; his mother, Elizabeth Shales; a son, Clay McCrea; and a grandson, Steven Lee.

Survivors include his two daughters, Dorcy Lee (husband Grover) and Donna Lloyd (husband Matt), both of Waycross; son, Richard J. Klingensmith of Nebraska; 6 grandchildren, Pam Wheeler (husband Kneadum), Dustin Lee, Ashlee Lloyd, and Brooke Lloyd, all of Waycross, Madison Moore (husband Gage) of Blackshear, and Kristen Klingensmith of Jacksonville, FL; 4 great grandchildren, LilyAnne Wheeler and Jackson Wheeler, both of Waycross, Lankston Moore of Blackshear, and Reign Klingensmith of Jacksonville; brother, Jim Klingensmith (wife Carol) of Pennsylvania; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday (1/6/21) at 1 p.m. at the residence of his daughter, Dorcy Lee, 4150 Leann Road, Waycross, GA 31503.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.

Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.

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