Richard “Dick” Hugh Ketcham

Dick was born in Glen Cove, N.Y., on June 9, 1930, the son of the late Wilbur and Luella (McHugh) Ketcham.

Dick was predeceased by his wife, Marianne, of 68 years, who passed away on Nov. 6, 2020.

Dick graduated from Glen Cove High School in June of 1947. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., before joining the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.

On May 17, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Marianne Bernadette Egan at Saint Patrick’s Church in Glen Cove, N.Y. When the couple got married, Dick was in the U.S. Navy. As a result, they moved several times: first, to New London, Conn., then to the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., then to Charleston, S.C.. and lastly Norfolk, Va. Dick served proudly aboard the U.S.S. Runner and then the U.S.S. Lionfish.

Upon his discharge from the U.S. Navy on March 7, 1955, Dick began his career at IBM, where he worked for 30 years. They soon moved from Norfolk to Wallingford, Conn., and then to New City, N.Y., where they lived for 24 years. In 1985 Dick and Marianne moved to East Hampton, N.Y., where they lived until 2015. After his retirement from IBM Dick worked as an election inspector and coordinator for many years in East Hampton, N.Y. In 2015 they moved to Fredonia, N.Y.

Dick always enjoyed camping with his wife and family. His favorite spots were Hither Hills, N.Y., and the Florida Keys. His most memorable trip was an eight week camping adventure across the United States in 1970 with his wife and all six children. Dick also greatly enjoyed attending and volunteering at all of his children’s school and sporting events. One of Dick’s fondest memories was when he took his bride to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary. Dick also was an avid photographer and he always enjoyed capturing special family memories.

Dick was the proud and loving father of his six children: Elizabeth Susan Sanderson of Coral Springs, Fla., Richard H. (Susan) Ketcham Jr. of Fredonia, N.Y., James Scott (Susan) Ketcham of Warner, N.H., JoAnn Ketcham of Rochester, N.Y., and Fredonia, N.Y., John Alan “Jay” (Eileen) Ketcham of Bow, N.H., and Jeffrey W. (Carolyn) Ketcham of Easthampton, Mass.; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Dick’s family would like to express their appreciation to the “breakfast group” in Fredonia who added much to his life. Dick’s family would also like to thank the caregivers and physicians at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Brooks Memorial Hospital and especially his “Fredonia Place Family” who cared for him and loved him during the last three years.

Visiting hours will be held at LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Ave., Fredonia, on Wednesday from 4-6 p.m., where a funeral service will be held at 6 p.m., with Father Dan Walsh presiding. Full military honors, under the auspices of the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council, will follow the funeral service. The funeral service and military honors will be live streamed commencing at 5:45 p.m., on Wednesday with the service to begin at 6 p.m. To view the live stream services go to Dick’s site on the funeral home’s web site, larson timkofuneralhome.com. Dick will interred with his wife in Calverton National Cemetery in Long Island, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions made in Dick’s memory to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871(brightfocus.org/ HYPERLINK “http: //brightfocus.org/stopAD” stopAD) or to the Fredonia Fire Department, 80 W. Main St., Fredonia, N.Y. 14063.

On-line condolences may be made at larsontimko funeralhome.com.

Arrangements by David J. Dengler, LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home