Richard E. Clevenger

Richard E. Clevenger, 89, Muncie, better known as Brucie to his family, joined Boo-Boo and his Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven on Wednesday, March 9.

Though 89-years-old, Dick never considered himself to be an old person and refused to let his nine grandchildren or twenty-five great-grandchildren call him Grandpa, hence the nickname Brucie.

Born in Muncie to Chester H. and Zelma F. (Daugherty) Clevenger, Dick was a lifelong Bearcat, graduating from Muncie Central in 1951. He even turned the word into a verb, as in “to Bearcat someone,” when he won an argument or ball game. A veteran on the front line of the Korean War, he was proud of his Bronze Stars and Combat Badge. He was a sixty-seven year member of Moose Lodge #33 and a twenty-one year member of Parker Masonic Lodge #630 F &AM. A past president of the Muncie Bowling Association, Dick was also a member of the Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame. An athlete his entire life, Dick was a member of Central’s track and basketball teams, pitched for softball teams for years, and was an avid bowler until he started winter vacationing in Florida. There he became obsessed with shuffleboard and won several medals for his team and himself in the Senior Games.

He worked for Sears & Roebuck in the hardware department for several years before leaving to drive for Marsh Supermarkets, from which he retired after thirty-six years. Recently attending Center Chapel, he helped teach 5th and 6th grade Sunday school for over thirty years at Madison Street United Methodist Church, served as Scoutmaster there, and was on numerous committees during his time there. He was also a faithful member of Caleb’s Kin at Grace Baptist Church for the past few years.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-eight years, Phyllis; and a son, Richard David.

Richard is survived by his children, Deborah (husband, Phil) Brown of Muncie, Katherine (husband, Mike) Wright of Fishers, Michael (wife, Chris) Clevenger of Yorktown, and Kathi (widow of Richard David) Clevenger of Fishers; his grandchildren, Justin (wife, Kimber) Brown, Katherine Brown, Matthew (wife, Tiffany) Abernathy, Jason (wife, Liz) Clevenger, Nicole (husband, Chuck) Good, Brandon Clevenger, Julianne (husband, Ryan) Combs, Sarah (husband, Brandon) Price, and Lauren (husband, Dan) Pittman; and twenty-five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47304 with Pastor Rory Bond officiating. Entombment will follow in Elm Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum. Military Rites will be conducted by Veterans of Delaware County Honor Guard.

Family and friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Elm Ridge Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association, 6100 West 96th Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, IU Cancer Society, 535 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, or Heritage Hall Christian School, 6401 White River Road, Muncie, Indiana 47304.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at elmridgefuneralhome.com