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Obituaries

Richard Chitwood

06/26/1971 - 02/16/2018

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Obituary For Richard Chitwood

A Celebration of Life for Richard Lynn Chitwood, 46, of Sherman, who passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 10:00 AM at Dannel Funeral Home. Pastor Leland Samuelson will officiate. Interment will follow at Holloway Cemetery in Luella. Pallbearers will be Kevin Reynolds, Andrew Moore, David Manning, Shawn Feltner, Mark Feltner, and Bill Dick. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, February 20 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Dannel Funeral Home. Richard was born on June 26, 1971, to Rickie and Patricia Chitwood. He was raised in Tom Bean and attended Tom Bean schools. Upon graduation from high school, Richard attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a business economics degree. Upon joining the Peace Corps, he was stationed in Russia and Ukraine. After two years in the Peace Corps, he then went to work for a Micro-Finance organization that funded start-up businesses all over the world. Most of his time was spent in Afghanistan working to build an economic future for people who had little opportunity for financial security. Always a free spirit, Richard was never judgmental of others. When he was in high school, he always took an interest in the foreign exchange students and worked to understand their perspective and culture. He even participated in an exchange program and lived abroad for several weeks. When he lived in different places worldwide, Richard would invite members of his family to meet him, and often they would come separately, with Richard giving the same tour several times with equal enthusiasm. Richard loved people, and would often tell his family that others around the world were just as interested in peace and happiness as we are. Fearless in the face of opposition, he was always compassionate and full of goodwill towards people of diverse backgrounds. A believer in equal rights for all, he lived his life accordingly, which in today’s world seems like a rare quality. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him all over the world. Richard was preceded in death by grandparents: Ivan Reynolds, Frances Carter, Thomas Chitwood, and Oma Chitwood, uncles Danny Chitwood, and Larry Chitwood. Richard is survived by his son, Andre Chitwood of France; mother, Patricia Reynolds Chitwood of Sherman; father, Rickie Lynn Chitwood and wife Elaine of Sherman; brother, Ben Chitwood and wife Bri of Sherman; uncles, Harry Reynolds and wife Alera of Sherman, Clyde Reynolds and wife Barbara of Gordonville, Dick Reynolds of Sherman; aunts, Pam Green of The Colony, Jean Cox and husband Wayne of Sherman; step-brother David Manning, Sr., and step nephew David Manning, Jr., as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and also the friends he acquired through his travel and work experience. You may sign the online guestbook at www.Dannelfuneralhome.com.

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Condolences

  • 02/27/2018

    So very sorry for your loss. Thomas and Clydene Moore

  • 02/24/2018

    It's hard to believe Richard is gone. Just like Tim Pylate, my fellow Group VI Peace Corps Volunteer, I will always remember how helpful Richard was to us newbies. He showed great friendship and advice when times were tough. He was also very supportive of other volunteers' project. Together with Tim and I, we wrote a grant for funds to produce sign language books for a local school for the deaf. If I remember correctly, it was Rich who found the project and made sure it was brought through to completion. Also, when my counterpart's daughter broke her leg, he was one of the people who helped pay for the surgery to help her walk again. For a volunteer on a Peace Corps salary, this was a bit of a sacrifice. But Richard did it without a thought. I am sad to say we lost touch over the years and I wish we had reconnected so I could have heard of all his adventures. My thoughts are with his family, especially his son as well as his parents who I had the pleasure to meet in Ukraine, those many years ago. Rob O'Leary Peace Corps Ukraine (1996-98; 2015-2017) ~ Robert O'Leary, New York, New York

  • 02/21/2018

    Gone too soon. Prayers of comfort for the family during this time. May he rest in peace & he live on forever in our hearts. He is loved and will be missed by many. God Bless his son, family & friends. ~ Tiffany Mathis, Tom Bean, Texas

  • 02/21/2018

    So hard to believe, he was always smiling, and funny, and will smile down upon all of us with our Lord. ~ David Merriman, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/21/2018

    Gone way too soon. He was loved and will surely be missed by friends and family. My prayers go out to his family. ~ lou brown, sherman, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    My sincere condolences to the family. I have had the privilege of working with Ben the last few years and will keep your entire family in my prayers. ~ Joe Hardt, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    Dear friends and family of Richard, I was so deeply saddened to hear of Richard's passing. Although we had not kept in touch recently, I always considered him a dear friend. Richard was headlong into his own Peace Corps service when I arrived in Donetsk, Ukraine to start mine more than 20 years ago. He was so welcoming and he took it upon himself to show the newbies around town and make sure they got settled in. And what a comfort it was to have a friend from my home state of Texas! He was admired by all of his Ukrainian and American counterparts, and the volunteers were so envious of his fluent Russian! He was always known as a hospitable host, inviting volunteers and friends into his home for birthdays and visits from his dad. Following Peace Corps, we both pursued careers in international development. Imagine my surprise when one day in the far reaches of Afghanistan, a colleague hands me a business card from the Finca office next door with "Richard Chitwood" embossed on it. Sure enough, I walk next door to find Richard sitting on the floor Afhan-style, dressed in Afghan shalwar kameez, a loose Afghan scarf around his neck and sipping tea from a saucer. He was always one to embrace the culture! Of course, he already knew where all the good spots were and he drove me and a friend to the outskirts of town where we had a luxurious Afghan dinner and even beer! To know Richard was to love his giant smile and his huge, kind heart. He never met a stranger, and he made friends no matter where he was in this world. May God bless his soul. My prayers are with you, and I wish you all God's peace. ~ Tim Pylate, Pearland, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    I was friend with Rich and lived across the hall from him in Law Hall at Texas A&M. Rich had a very upbeat and outgoing personality. It was amazing to walk around campus with him. He seemed to know everyone and would stop and talk. We would joke about not walking somewhere with Rich, because you were going to be late by the time he had said Howdy to all the folks he knew. It is so sad to hear about his passing, and we pray for peace and comfort for his family during this time of loss. God bless, Jon & Karen Winkles ~ Jonathan Winkles, Cedar Park, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    I am so sorry for your loss. My heart is so heavy for you. I will continue to lift the family up in my prayers. I love y'all so much. ~ Monica Poindexter, McLoud, Oklahoma

  • 02/20/2018

    Ricky and Pat Sorry to hear about the loss of your son. May God be with you and your family. Cindy Jones ~ Cindy Jones-house, VaAlstye, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    So sorry to hear of Ricky's passing. I have several fond memories of him in school but my favorite is when he played PeeWee Herman at the State Student Council Convention. He was the hit of the show. We are praying for the family. Wayne & Beth Hale

  • 02/20/2018

    I was deeply saddened to hear of Rich's passing. I lived across from him in Law Hall at Texas A&M. Rich was always fun to be around and brought a smile to the face of everyone who met him. I remember staying at the Chitwood residence in Tom Bean to go watch the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl. After graduation anytime Rich was passing through Houston he would drop us a line to catch up. My thoughts and prayers are with you. ~ Brian Davis, Denver, Colorado

  • 02/20/2018

    Sorry for your loss. Richard was a great man with a big heart. ~ Elena Rozmaritza, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/20/2018

    We are saddened to learn of the passing of Rich, but grateful for his service to our nation with the Peace Corps in Ukraine and Russia. Our Condolences, The National Peace Corps Association

  • 02/20/2018

    My deepest condolences to all Richard's family and friends. He was a sweet light in the world. Rest In Peace my friend. ~ Sandy (Weaver) Goodale, Hemet,, California

  • 02/19/2018

    I knew Ritchie as a youngster in Tom Bean High School. He was always such an outstanding young man. I had lost touch with him after graduation. I pray that our Heavenly Father will wrap his loving arms around you and your family, giving you peace and comfort. God Bless and keep you. ~ Fern Hamm, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/19/2018

    may God bless you Elaine and Ricky. billy and sandy ~ billy short, quitman, Texas

  • 02/19/2018

    I'm so sorry for you loss. I never met him, but love both sides of his family. You are all in my prayers. ~ Cathy Armstrong, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/19/2018

    Ricky and Pat - our heart felt deepest sympathy for your loss. Praying for the two of you and the rest of the family. ~ Dick & Brenda Round, Allen, Texas

  • 02/19/2018

    You are in my Prayers ~ Andrew Brooks, OKC, Oklahoma

  • 02/19/2018

    Hello Chitwood Family: Richard was an amazing person and good friend. I had the opportunity work with Richard in the Peace Corp. He visited my family in Colorado on several occasions, and we visited him in Geneva. His adventures and life were an inspiration for us all. ~ Joanna Fry, GOLDEN, Colorado

  • 02/19/2018

    Sorry for you loss ~ Josh Yowell, Sherman, Texas

  • 02/19/2018

    My sincere condolences to the entire Chitwood family. Richard was a tremendous advisor for economic development and change in the countries where he worked from his years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine through his work in microfinance development in Afghanistan and other countries. Richard definitely left his mark on a lot of people. Honored and privileged to have served with him in Ukraine. ~ Tim O'Brien

  • 02/19/2018

    So Sorry for your loss. Your Family is very Special to us. Our thoughts and prayers are with y'all in the days ahead. ~ Rusty and Susie Dick, Colbert, Oklahoma

  • 02/19/2018

    Richie, you were part of our family and we will always remember you and miss your visits. You always had interesting stories to tell, and shared your experiences with us whenever you came back home. It was so special to have you celebrate last Christmas with us. We will always remember you now and forevermore at that special time of year. We love you so much and we will always keep you in our hearts. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." Love you always, Vickie and Carl Feltner

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