Richard Dean Van Valin, aged 74, passed away unexpectedly on August 28th, 2013, at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at 2p.m. on Wednesday, September 4th, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ames.
A longtime resident of Ames, Richard was born in Wakefield, Nebraska in 1939. He graduated from Wayne State College, Nebraska, and worked for most of his life as a chemist. He married Lynne (Morrow) Van Valin in 1962. The couple had three children, Vicki, Lisa and Joel, and lived in several towns, including Des Moines, Rockville (Indiana), Lewistown (Pennsylvania), New Martinsville (West Virginia), and Minneapolis, before relocating to Ames in 1987, where he worked for Hach company for a number of years.
Richard served as president of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, and acted as officiant at several weddings, including that of his son Joel to Lisa Reiter. He was also a member of the American Chemical Society, as well as an organ donor. An avid bicyclist, he helped found the Prairie Cycles bicycling group. After retirement he also took up disc golf, and is the "grandfather" of senior disc golfing in Ames. He loved travel, and visited many different countries with his wife, including Germany and Australia with Friendship Force. He was also fond of nature walks, bird watching, tennis, skiing, cars and science.
His keen mind, disarming personality, calmness, humor and optimism inspired all who knew him. He was an impresario who meticulously organized many a cross-country trip and weekend outing, and had boundless energy and zest for life. He was the rock of his family, a wonderful husband and father, and a true friend. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Lynne, of Ames; daughter Lisa, of Minneapolis; son Joel and daughter-in-law Lisa Reiter, of St. Paul; sister Janis and her partner James Dickey, of Laguna Woods, California; brother Charles and his wife Ruth, of Boulder; brother-in-law David and his wife Jacqueline, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; nephews Bruce Dunning and his wife Janet, Harry Otto and his wife Suzanne, and Robert Otto, all of Los Angeles, Christopher Morrow, of Chicago, and Michael Morrow, of Astoria, Oregon; and great-nieces Amy Dunning of Santa Cruz, Jill (Dunning) Punnilath and her husband Shamim, of Pleasanton, California, and Carmell Otto, of Los Angeles.
He was predeceased by his parents, Carroll and May Van Valin, brother Robert James, and daughter Vicki.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Rails to Trails Conservancy (www.railstotrails.org), Friendship Force International (www.friendshipforce.org) or the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames.
Arrangements are being handled by Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care. Condolences and photos may be shared at www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.