Richard Thomas Wakeman, 98, born September 28, 1927, passed peacefully into the arms of His Lord Jesus, January 2, 2026, at Abington Hospital, PA, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Walton, located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, to John V. and Esther (Bartlett) Wakeman. He is predeceased by his parents, sister Harriet Neale, and loving wife of 67 years, Ruth (Pickering) Wakeman. Survivors include his sons, Gene and Rollin, six grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren.

Dick not only loved the Lord and His church, but he also loved an adventure. In 1962, he and Ruth took a sabbatical from their jobs, found teaching jobs in England, and moved the whole family to Stratford, England.  The adventure began with landing on the west coast of Ireland and bicycling across the island to start the year in England. During that time, he became a reader at the British Museum where he researched the Wakeman Family genealogy in preparation for a book (Nought Rashly, Nought Timidly) which he later wrote and published.

His early education began at Walton Central Schools.  His education was interrupted by World War II when he enlisted in the Navy at age 17. He was stationed on the USS Hermitage which brought home soldiers from the Pacific Theater at the end of the war. His education continued at Sampson College followed by Houghton University where he completed a bachelor's in music. At Houghton, he met, pursued, and married the love of his life Ruth Pickering. He then completed a Master of Arts in music at Ithaca University.

Dick taught music for 25 years at Walton Central School. After retirement, Dick and Ruth lived in Walton for the summer months and enjoyed family picnics, church life, archaeological digs, Bartlett pie parties, ice cream parties, and many other good memories. They spent the winter months in Florida with other members of the family and had a very close knit "family" at the Oasis RV Park there. In Florida, they swam with the manatees, visited forests, museums, and had many
Family members escape the northern snow for a visit. Their love of travel and adventure has trickled down to the next generation and the next generation after that. The faith based life they shared has also made a lasting impact on their two sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Dick was an accomplished amateur botanist. The family often joked that we could point to a plant or tree and ask him to identify the Genus, Species and common name. He helped develop a blight-resistant Chestnut tree that will replace the American Chestnut lost in the early 20th century.  He loved orchids and lilies. At one time, he and Ruth had 50 orchids in the house on Chipmunk Hollow that had to be cared for, watered, and fertilized.

Dick and Ruth both loved archaeological and paleontological studies. They spent several years at a dig at Tel Lacish in Israel, southwest of Jerusalem.  In 1982, he and Rollin took a continuing education course at Oneonta State University and participated in a dig at the Byron-Bergen Swamp. He and Ruth spent several years digging there and uncovered many significant discoveries, including an 8-foot Wooly Mammoth tusk. Dick went on to co-direct a dig on the East Branch of the Delaware River at the Cole-Schriber Site in Walton, where the Lenape Indians settled, eight thousand to 250 years ago.

Later in life, after his wife Ruth passed, he found adventure in reading. He would read mysteries, historical fiction, biographies, and adventure novels. People that walked the hallways at the Fort Washington Estates, where he lived, remarked that they always saw him reading a book.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Walton, NY, under the direction of Courtney Funeral Home on Saturday January 17, 2026.  The viewing will start at 10 am with the funeral at 11 am followed by a light-lunch reception in the church fellowship hall at 12 noon. Interment will take place later in April. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations you may wish, to the First Baptist Church of Walton - Don Henderson, Pastor.