Richard Floyd VanDemark

Richard Floyd VanDemark a lifelong resident of Accord, NY, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023. He was 82 years old. Richard was born on December 27, 1940 in Ellenville, NY; he was the son of Alvah and Nettie (Chrisey) VanDemark.

Richard graduated from Rondout Valley High School in 1958. Shortly after he enlisted into the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Hamilton, NY until being deployed to Frankfurt Germany at Rhein Main Air Base. Richard served with the 15^th Quartermaster Battalion earning the rank of PVT E2. He was awarded the high ranking Sharp Shooter badge and was honorably discharged in 1965. Following his honorable discharge, Richard worked for Channel Master, VAW and later was a long-haul truck driver for Colandrea Trucking. More recently he retired from AERO Transporters where he worked from 1980-1997. He earned several awards for safe driving and million-mile accident-free awards. He also ran a driver training program. In his downtime Richard was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved camping and dirt track racing.

Richard is survived by his loving wife Nancy Orser VanDemark whom he married on November 3, 1973; children, Brenda Nieves (widowed by Antonio Nieves), Christina VanDemark-Shirk and her husband David and Richard VanDemark and his wife Jessica; grandchildren, Heide Nieves, Donald Heil (Sabrina), Tiffani Heil (Stephen), Thomas Nieves (Devyn), Richard VanDemark (Kayla), Alexa VanDemark and Abby Shirk; great grandchildren, Aria and Lyla Smith and Callie Pike; nephew Michael Gates (Maryanne) and their children Amanda and Branden. Also surviving are several lifelong friends.

Richard was predeceased by his sister Virginia Gates.

Memorial visitation will be held at Humiston Funeral Home, Kerhonkson on Thursday, April 20^th from 5-9 pm with a service beginning at 7pm that evening. A procession will form at the funeral home the following day, Friday, April 21^st and will leave at 11am for a graveside service with military honors at New Paltz Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Richard’s name to the American Cancer Society by clicking the link below.