Montrose - Daily Press

Richard John Ludwig  

‘It Was a Good Ride’

Jan. 14, 1916 — Oct. 7, 2009

Advertisement

MONTROSE — Richard John Ludwig, age 93, died on Oct. 7, 2009, at the Montrose Memorial Hospital in Montrose. Richard was born in Montrose, the son of John Ludwig and Elsie McLoud. He spent his youth working and living on the family farm raising cattle. When he left Montrose, he served in the Pacific with the Marines during World War II and after that settled in Van Nuys, Calif., where he went to work in the Sheet Metal Union as a journeyman. He was an avid angler and loved to spend his vacation time traveling from one beautiful lake to another enjoying boating and fishing along with the peaceful solitude. Richard was very talented working with his hands and over the years built most of their furniture as well as copper lamps and hand-hammered works of art. His grandchildren believed that Grandpa Dick could fix anything and he usually did.  In fact, along with working on his personal projects, he was always available to help his daughters fix up their homes. Richard was a confirmed bachelor and loved spending time with his group of friends hunting and fishing. However, after meeting the woman who became the love of his life, Richard married Evy (Oct. 29, 1915 — March 21, 2007) on July 17, 1959, in North Hollywood, Calif.  They made their home in California with her two daughters, Sandy and Barbie. They lived by the teachings of the Church of Religious Science. Richard took many advanced classes in the Power of Positive Thinking and practiced the teachings of Ernest Holmes until his death. Their three granddaughters were born in California and enjoyed the time they spent with their grandfather. In 1978, Dick convinced Evy to move back to his hometown so they could retire and go fishing in the many beautiful lakes of Colorado. They both became very involved in the historical society and the archaeological society. Richard spent many hours in a labor of love repairing and working on the Montrose museum. Now, retired they both had a lot of fun together canning the fish they caught as well as fruits and vegetables which were delicious. They were also very involved in the Senior Center and went there for lunches as well as dinner and dancing. They missed their Church and so they reached out to the community and started the Montrose Chapter of the Church of Religious Science, which now resides in Delta, Colo.

Dick spent his remaining years living at the Spring Creek Chalet. He enjoyed the hours he spent feeding the swans and the time he spent socializing with the other residents..

Surviving family members who shared much of Richard’s life include two daughters, Sandy Samuels of Newport Beach, Calif., and Barbara Rock of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; a son-in-law, Herb Samuels of Newport Beach, Calif; three granddaughters, Tracee McCoy of California, Lisa Goodstein of New York, Candace Rock of Sherman Oaks, Calif; four great-grandchildren, as well as Richard’s only niece and nephew, Elaine Frank of Tacoma, Wash., and Gary Jensen of  San Jose, Calif.  Private family services will be held.

Arrangements are being handled under the direction and care of the Crippin

Funeral Home and Crematory, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.

Comments