Richard Alan Gillespie

Richard “Dick” Gillespie, Age 92, our beloved father, died peacefully on February 27th, 2026 after a brief battle with lung cancer.

Dick was born on March 13th, 1933, to Verne and Marie Gillespie in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and married to Dee Gillespie, all who have preceded him in death, as have his brothers Tom (Bev), Larry (Donna), and Jerome (Pat).

He is survived by his children Joe (Vicki) Gillespie of Croton, Anne Marie Gillespie of Indiana, and Sherry Gillespie of Vassar, widow of his son Rob. He is also survived by his grandchildren Heather Gillespie, Jason (Renee) Gillespie, Katie (Patrick) Bolter, Megan Bolter, and Lisa (Joe) Gillespie; great-grandchildren Logyn (Mitch) Zuehlke, Dakota (Chelsea) Sebert, Koltyn (Leigha) Sebert, Onna Gillespie, Rowan Gillespie-Michaels, Amora Ray, and Harriet Bolter-Vail; and great-great grandchildren Rowen Zuehlke, Ravyn Zuehlke, Brookes Zuehlke, Swayzee Sebert, Marshall Sebert, Kentyn Sebert, and Harper Sebert, as well as many other nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.

Dick loved music (especially, polkas and marches), dancing, and traveling. He had an amazing laugh and was well known for his optimism and joy for life. He loved to tell stories and was the keeper of his family’s history, always eager to share memories from the past. He was also known to break into song or a yodel, whenever the moment seemed to call for it.

He always had a wide circle of friends and a gift for striking up conversations, even if it was someone he just met. He was curious about life and found happiness in every day of being alive.

He had a deep love of history and never stopped learning new things. A trip to a museum with Dick could take hours, as he carefully read every display and description. He enjoyed watching documentaries and studying old photographs, especially noticing the shoes people wore and imaging what life must have been like in those earlier times.

Dick loved good food, especially gravy, of which there could never be too much. He believed every meal should include at least two different meats and he never turned down dessert. A talented butcher, he kept his knives razor sharp and each year he de-boned a turkey for Thanksgiving.

He proudly served his country during the Korean War. A talented athlete, in his youth he ran track and remained physically active throughout his life. Even in his 90s, he took pride in reaching his daily goal of 10,000 steps.

Dick worked in the grocery business for thirty plus years and had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. In 1976, he and Dee purchased the Croton Dam Store, and a few years later opened Gillespie’s Supermarket. He was instrumental in creating the Croton Chamber of Commerce and served for many years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Most recently, he served as a member of the Croton Zoning Board of Appeals. Although Croton was always home, his work as a district merchandiser for Walmart also meant he lived in many places in Indiana and Arkansas.

He loved being part of his community and sharing its history. Through the “One Township at a Time” program, he gave talks about the history of Croton. For many years, he also opened his lawn to neighbors so they could enjoy the Fourth of July fireworks, welcoming everyone to share in the celebration.

Above all, Dick loved his family deeply. He often said that in life you should “be the seaweed and not fight against the waves,” advice that reflected his optimism, adaptability, and strong roots. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

According to Dick’s wishes he will be cremated. A family memorial to inter both Dick and Dee at the Croton cemetery will be held at a different time. A celebration of Dick’s life will be held on what would have been his 93rd birthday, Friday, March 13th at the Croton American Legion from 12:30-2:30.