Richard E. Whitcraft

Command Sergeant Major (retired) Richard E. “Buck” Whitcraft, 88, of East Lansing, Michigan, and formerly of Van Wert, died at 10:25 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2015, at The Marquette in East Lansing.

He was born July 10, 1926, in Van Wert, the son of Forest L. and Mildred (Marvin) Whitcraft, who both preceded him in death. On January 30, 1946, he married Gloria (Langdon) Whitcraft, who also preceded him in death on January 20, 2008.

Survivors include three children, Steve Whitcraft and Brent “BW” Whitcraft, both of Van Wert, and Brenda (Eric) Merkle of Lansing, Michigan; two sisters, LaRita Jones of Louisville, Kentucky, and Donna (Ron) Stuckey of Van Wert; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

A daughter-in-law, Dee Whitcraft; and one brother, Roger Whitcraft, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, with graveside military honors performed by the combined units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both of Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Ohio Elks Cerebral Palsy or Senior Companion Care.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com.