Longtime Lansdale Cemetery Master, Public Servant, 84

Obituary courtesy Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home

Richard A. Stricker, 84, of Lansdale, died Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at his home.

Born August 3, 1931 in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late George C. and Bertha (Sturzebecker) Stricker.

Richard moved to the North Penn area at age 3, graduated from Lansdale High School with the Class of 1950, and attended Temple Technical School. From 1952 to 1959, he worked as a self-employed heating contractor before joining Clyde S. Walton, Inc. in 1959 as its first service technician. He retired 34 years later as a design technician.

Richard served as a member of Lansdale Borough Council between 1976 and 1980. During this time, he supported numerous community improvements, including the erection of the present Fairmount Fire Company fire house.

He gained considerable recognition for his efforts to restore and preserve the historic Lansdale Cemetery over a span of 52 years. Beginning in 1962 with the cemetery in disrepair, he rallied the community to clean up the burial ground. When the non-profit Lansdale Cemetery, Inc. was formed in 1964, he was named superintendent, curator, and records keeper.

Richard was a member and trustee of the Lansdale Historical Society which presented him with the 2006 Edwin G. Holl Historical Achievement Award for his dedication to the cemetery. He was also a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society. During the 1960s and 1970s, he was a member of the Lansdale Community Improvement Association until it closed.

His hobbies included O-Gauge railroading, boating at the New Jersey shore and on the Delaware River, and steam-powered automobiles.

Survivors include his sister, Dorothy Ann Amidon of Moon Twp., PA; nephews, Mark Amidon (Dawn) of Marion, IA, and Todd Amidon (Sue) of San Francisco; his niece, Amy Simon (Bill) of Aspen, CO; a number of great-nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

Relatives and friends may call between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. November 27, 2015 at Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave., Lansdale. A second visitation will begin 9:00 a.m. November 28, 2015 at the funeral home followed by the Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will be in the Lansdale Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to the Lansdale Historical Society, 137 Jenkins Ave., Lansdale, PA 19446.