Richard Melvin Klingensmith, 81, of Waycross, passed away Thursday afternoon, December 31, 2020, at his daughter’s residence, following an extended illness.
He was born September 15, 1939 in Ellwood City, PA, where he grew up and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy for six 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; six grandchildren, Pam Wheeler (husband Kneadum), Dustin Lee, Ashlee Lloyd and Brooke Lloyd, all of Waycross, Madison Moore (husband Gage), Blackshear and Kristen Klingensmith, Jacksonville, FL; four great-grandchildren, LilyAnne Wheeler and Jackson Wheeler, both of Waycross, Lankston Moore, Blackshear, and Reign Klingensmith, Jacksonville, FL; brother, Jim Klingensmith (wife Carol) of Pennsylvania and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2021, from 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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