Richard E. Gladding, 75, of Jamestown passed away peacefully on Jan. 10, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Dale (Westall) Gladding. They were married for 53 years.

Born in Marion, Ohio, son of the late Severance and Marion E. (Myles) Gladding, the family returned to Jamestown in 1950.

Richard graduated from De La Salle Academy in Newport in 1959.

After high school he joined the US Army where he served a three year tour in Germany. He served a term on the Jamestown Town Council in the early 1970's.

He was an employee of New England Telephone Co. and retired from Nynex in 1991. Richard's most proud accomplishment was raising his four children on the family farm where they raised all their own produce, meats and dairy.

He spent his retirement years on his John Deere tractor making supplies for local landscapers.

Besides his wife, he leaves his children Richard Jr. and his wife Mary of Farmington, N.H., Kenneth and his wife Nikki, Krista Delyi and her husband Michael, Brian and his wife Maureen all of Jamestown; eight grandchildren, Libby, Matthew, Catherine, Christina, Adler, Caleb, William and Lizzie; his siblings William Gladding of ass.A, Lois Baughman of Pa., Barbara Gallo and Charles Gladding of Jamestown, and Margaret Fonseca of Exeter.

Richard was recently predeceased by his brother Severance Myles Gladding and his granddaughter Molly Anne Gladding.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend his graveside service Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at 10 a.m. in Cedar Cemetery, Cedar Lane, Jamestown.

In Richard's memory, feel free to wear your favorite flannel shirt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Jamestown Fire/EMS, 50 Narragansett Ave., Jamestown, RI 02835 will be appreciated as they were so helpful to the family during his illness.

For messages of condolence visit: www.FaganQuinnFuneralHome.com.

Published in Southern Rhode Island Newspapers on Jan. 21, 2017