Richard Thomas Heald

Richard Thomas Heald (Dick), 90, sailed on peacefully from his home, Kendal at Longwood, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on November 16, 2018.  Singer, sailor and inquisitor, Dick never ran out of questions to ask, parties to attend or books to read aloud. 

Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Dick spent his boyhood summers on the upper Chesapeake Bay.  He graduated from Wilmington Friends School and Colgate University.  Dick served during the Korean War in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox.  He worked at Philadelphia Dairy Company and the Kaumagraph Company (Wilmington) before joining the Delaware Trust Company (1958-1985).  Dick and his wife of 57 years, Carol Jo (CJ) Thayer Heald, raised their son and daughter in Mendenhall, PA. 

Sailing the Chesapeake was his love.  Dick raced in the Lightning class and won the Fleet 192 championship in 1963.  He played squash at the Wilmington Y, where he also joined the Y’s men’s club.  As a member of the Ardensingers in the 1970s, Dick sang in Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Dick was an active member, Elder and Deacon at the Kennett Square Presbyterian Church.  He later joined Westminster Presbyterian in West Chester, where he served as a Stephen Minister, sang in the choir and attended the Thursday morning Mens Group. 

Volunteer work at the Seamen’s Center, Port of Wilmington and the Chester County Historical Society’s photo archives rounded out his retirement activities.  Always, he sang and performed.  At Kendal, Dick joined the Kendal Singers, the Playreaders, the Spiritual Life Committee and served as president of the Kendal Residents' Association. 

Dick loved to interview people about everything – their interests, their education, their spirituality.  He read books and newspaper columns to groups large and small, in between chuckles and howls.  How he loved a good party and comradery.

He is survived by his wife CJ, daughter, Susan Heald (Michael Brehl), son, Steven Heald, grandchildren, Roslyn Jade Heald Brehl, David Richard Brehl and Olivia Elizabeth Heald and cousin, Alisan Henderson as well as his extended Thayer family in-laws.  All deeply appreciated his outgoing and inquisitive disposition and enthusiasm for life.  Dick was predeceased by his infant son, David T. Heald in 1962.

A service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, January 11, 2019 at WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester, PA. 

A memorial will also be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Auditorium, KENDAL at LONGWOOD, 1109 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square.

Burial will be private in Lower Brandywine Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can by made to Kendal Reserve Fund, P.O. Box 100, Kennett Square, PA 19348.  https://kcc.kendal.org/giving/charitable_funds/

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