Obituary of Richard Allen Ersek

Richard Allen Ersek (1929 – 2017)

Richard Allen Ersek, Sr., most recently of Herndon, VA, died of cardiac arrest on April 27, 2017 at the age of 88. Born the son of John and Elizabeth Ersek, he grew up as part of a very close-knit Hungarian family in Eddystone, PA during the Great Depression with eight brothers and sisters. He later lived in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife of 52 years, Shirley Joyce (Brown) Ersek, who also died on April 27, in 2006 – eleven years to the day of Rich’s death – symbolizing their unity and undying love for one another.

Rich was a thoughtful, unusually kind and generous man, known for remembering details about people that he met. He often purchased exactly what he knew his friends liked – whether a favorite food (Kielbasa, Hungarian Nut Rolls, a type of cookie or candy) or a hobby, collectible, or sport memorabilia (angels, coins, Eagles gear, etc.). A man of many talents, the U.S. Army discovered his unusually high IQ while he served with the 2nd Armored Division in Germany and enrolled him in Officer Candidate School. Rich later served in positions at E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. as a Laboratory Assistant, Sun Oil Company as a Distillation Lab supervisor and Human Resources manager, Petron Company as a Terminal Manager, and as an entrepreneur and small business owner.  He frequently volunteered, including serving a term on the Chichester School Board in Boothwyn PA, where he played a key role in building Chichester High School in 1963.

He is survived by his son, Richard Allan Ersek, with his wife Carolyn and three grandchildren: David, Elisabeth, and Kaitlyn; and by his daughter, Beth-Ann Kreider, married to Brett Kreider with three more grandchildren: Logan, Noah, and Elena. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters Alice, Joe, Ruthie, and Ronnie.
 

A funeral and memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 13th at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Road, Herndon VA, 20170. In lieu of flowers, please send a charitable donation to HOPE worldwide (www.hopeww.org).  All information can be found on the Adams Green Funeral Home website:  http://adamsgreen.com/tribute/details/4304/Richard-Ersek/obituary.html.