Rick was born in Dover, Ohio. His dad was career military, so Rick grew up an "Army brat," living in Japan, Austria, Germany, and on occasion in the States. He loved growing up feeling like the whole world was his home.He began cartooning as a child, and kept it up almost to the end of his life. He was a natural writer and kept logs of his life when he was young that are still good reading. In his teens he became a guitarist and folksinger, part of the "folk scare" of the late 50s and early 60s. He played professionally in Germany, California, and Washington until a tour of the Midwest in 1970 convinced him that the professional musician's life was not for him, though he continued to play for joy, and even performed in a couple of musicals on Vashon in the 1980s.He was in the Navy from 1966 a" 1970, serving a one year hitch on the USS King on North SARS in the Tonkin Gulf. The King arrived on Yankee Station just in time for the Tet offensive in January, 1968, and like many Vietnam vets his experience in the war shaped the rest of his life and brought him together with friends who had had similar experiences. His contact with other veterans meant a lot to him, and for a time he volunteered on the U.S. Turner Joy, which is now a naval museum in Bremerton.He settled on Vashon Island in 1970, where he worked doing woodworking and handyman jobs until going to work for Masahiro Mukai at VIPCO in 1974. That's when Rick began to learn about water systems and from then on maintaining water systems and providing safe water for people was his career. In his final working years he sometimes found himself repairing or replacing pipes he'd put in 30 years previously while working for Mr. Mukai. He loved working outdoors on the island, and he loved not commuting. He rebuilt the Beulah Park water system in the late 1970s and early 1980s and worked on many private water systems before going to work for the Heights Water system in 1982. In 2002 he was hired by Water District 19, from which he retired at the end of 2012.He was known for his kind, loving, and humorous nature, which touched many people; his cartoons, which made people laugh and marvel at his drawing style; and his excellent singing and guitar playing.He loved his family, friends, and animal companions; he loved his home; he loved cartooning, archiving his life, reading Patrick O'Brien novels, and watching war movies and documentaries on TV. His great regret was that he worked so much when his sons were growing up and he missed seeing a lot of that. His great joy now was getting to see his granddaughter grow up.He leaves his wife, Mary; two sons, J.D. and Drew; a granddaughter, Allysan; his step-mother Diane Tuel; many cousins and other family in Ohio; and many longtime friends. He was predeceased by his mother in 1991 and his father only last August.Thanks to all who helped out in these hard last months, especially Julia Lakey, the Rev. Carla Pryne, and all the people of the Church of the Holy Spirit and all the other family, friends, and neighbors who pitched in with support both material and intangible. Thanks to all the Facebook friends who have had so many loving things to say and everyone else who has called, come by, and in general SHOWED UP; to the Vashon Fire Department EMTs who came in the middle of the night; to all the nurses, especially Angela, Virginia, Mary, and Rebecca, at the Northwest Kidney Center; to Dr. Cara Oliver, Dr. Danh Ngo, and to Dr. Jeffery Cary at Swedish Hospital; and to ARNPs Elizabeth, Katy, and Sarah, foot soldiers in medicine, and all the nurses, receptionists, and assistants at Fulton Family Medicine on Vashon.Thanks to nurse Ashley who stood witness at my side as I sang and talked to Rick at the end. Thanks to Marley the dog who keeps it real by snuggling up so close that she pushes me over the edge of the bed at night.You all give your best and make such a difference. You rock.A service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit on Vashon. The family asks that memorials be made to the Discretionary Fund of Church of the Holy Spirit, P O Box 508, Vashon WA 98070, or, to the Northwest Kidney Center.Please visit our online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.