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Columbia City High School
Alumni Association

600 N. Whitley St.
Columbia City, Indiana 46725

(260) 244-6136, Ext. 3459


Coach Duffield Passes Away

The Sturgis Journal March 15, 2007:

Richard Duffield

Richard H. "Dick" Duffield, age 88, of Sturgis, Mich., died Tuesday , March 13, 2007, at his home.

He was born Jan. 15, 1919, in Buffalo, N. Y., the only child of the late Harvey and Rose (Saxon) Duffield.

Dick's early life was spent in Lakewood, Ohio. Following his graduation from Findlay University in Ohio he moved to Columbia City, Ind., where he was a high school teacher and football coach. Dick and his family moved to Livonia, Mich., in 1959 where he was again a high school teacher and tennis coach. He moved to Sturgis in 1967 to become the controller at Glen Oaks Community College. Dick retired from White Pigeon Community Schools in 1986 where he had been employed as controller.

On April 4, 1942, he married Edith Culbertson in Lawton, Okla.

Dick was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in both Japan and Europe and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves, earning the rank of colonel.

Dick spent over 67 years officiating high school sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, wrestling, track and cross country.

Dick held several memberships, including Michigan and Indiana High School Athletic Associations, a life teaching license in Indiana and Michigan, Neuman-Wenzel Post #73 American Legion, Thirty Second Degree Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge. He was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis where he was a member of the church choir and the bell choir for most of the past 40 years. For 14 years Dick volunteered his time as a tax consultant for AARP.

Surviving are his loving wife of 64 years, Edith; two sons, Keith Duffield of Sturgis and Larry Duffield of Livonia; six grandchildren, Denise, Diane, Ryan, Sarah, Lauren and Michael; and two great-grandchildren.
 

His daughter, Janet Duffield Black preceded him in death.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating the life of Richard Duffield will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Sally Wicks will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at the Sturgis Memorial Gardens where Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Squad will confer full military rites.

The Hackman-Foglesong Funeral Home of Sturgis is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Dick Duffield Memorial Fund c/o: Sturgis Foundation, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.

His obituary is also at www.legacy.com.

 
 

©2005 Columbia City High School Alumni Association.           This page last updated 08/06/2012