Obituaries

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.