Richard Warren Schmutzler, 83, of Walton, NY went to be with God on Friday, July 22, 2011, after a recent illness.

Richard, the older son of Lester Francis and Vivian Shoudy Schmutzler, was born on October 10, 1927 in his grandparent's home in Syracuse, NY and welcomed by his sister Ruth. He was followed by his brother Lester Jr. and sister, Barbara.

He was the president of his class at Solvay High School, graduating in 1945. The week after graduating from high school he began his studies in mechanical engineering at Syracuse University. By January of 1946 he had completed one year of his program before he went off to basic training. After completing his tour with the US Army in Europe, he returned to graduate in 1950.

It was after his return that he started dating the love of his life, his future wife, Barbara Jean Lodder, at a church retreat. The church would continue to be the focal point of his life along side his devotion to his wife and family.

His first job was in Elizabeth, NJ with Singer Sewing Machine Company where he met David Scott. After several years in New Jersey he returned to the Syracuse area to be with family where he worked building houses with his father-in-law before working at General Electric. In 1964 he came to Walton to work at Scott Machine Development Corporation where he became president. He was the inventor of several patents.

Richard was a deacon of the Fairmont Community Church in Syracuse and an elder of the United Presbyterian Church in Walton, NY. He was a past master of the Walton Masonic Lodge and an Arch Mason. He was a past chairman of the hospital board of the Delaware Valley Hospital and was very active in the Habitat for Humanities of Delaware County, raising money and wielding a hammer.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, and his children, Marilyn (`Sudhir) Kulkarni of Wilmington, DE, Donna (Gary) Ferguson of Kingman, AZ, Ellen (Howard) Lockhart of Bainbridge, NY, Robert (Celeste) Schmutzler of Phoenix, NY, Debora (Bruce) Rogers of South Kortright, NY, Pamela (John) Hawes of Beachwood, NJ and Lori (Daniel) Sulger of Walton. He adored his eighteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Vivian, 1951, his father, Lester 1996, and his sister Ruth, 2005.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM at the Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend St., Walton.

Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon, at 2 PM at the United Presbyterian Church, cors of East and North Sts., with the Rev Dr. Lisa Ruth Mays, officiating. Burial will follow in Walton Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorial contributions in Dick's memory may be made to the United Presbyterian Church, Walton.