Club member Richard J. Straughen passed away on Friday August 27, 2010. He was 80 years old. Richard was the Uncle of fellow club members Sandy and John Yarema. He was a very dear friend of John's.

John Yarema says it best:
Richard and I were Friends. He worked at KR Automation up until his retirement. I helped him move from the house he bought after leaving the army, that he raised his family in and that his wife died in, to the condo he has now. It took him over a year to sort his life out and put that house up for sale. He borrowed a van and I helped load and unload.

We would have lunch a couple of times a week. I helped him with his AMX and he helped me with my cars. We went Drag Racing together and we went Road Racing together.

I took him to my car club meetings and he told me about the NASCAR races and his AMCOA meetings. Richard donated time to the hospital and to the Air National Guard Air Museum. We shared a lot. He was a member of SAAC-MCR.

Richard had Prostate cancer 10 years ago and then was pronounced Cancer free. He had procedures on his bladder a time or 2. Then the cancer affected his bladder enough to have his bladder removed. They still kept giving him Chemo. There was some cancer on his abdomen wall that they couldn't take. This was a year ago. In the middle of this, Richard had an intestinal obstruction at least 3 times. It affected his ability to eat and digest his food so he got weaker and lost weight. He didn't want visitors in the last year because he didn't feel good.  I spoke with him a couple of times a week ago. He was weak but he knew what was going on around him.

There will be no viewing, just a service at Great Lakes Veterans Cemetery in Holly on Thursday, Sept 2 at 11 am. Followed by a lunch at Village Penna in Sterling Heights by Lakeside Mall at about 1:30pm.

Richard J. Straughen 
Formerly of Eastpointe
Age 80, Passed away on Friday, August 27, 2010
Mr. Straughen is a member and current Commander of the American Legion Post 386. He was loved as a chaperone by the runners of the Eisenhower High School Cross Country Team. Enjoyed car cruising and flying.

Beloved husband for 47 years of the late Geraldine. Loving Father of Richard (Gail), Gari, and Dale (Dawn). Proud Grandfather of Kelly (John) Swanson, Richard (Jennifer), Sarah (Jacob) Graegin, Michael, Donald, and the late Douglas and Freedom. Dear Great-Grandfather of Skyler Brother of Lee (Alfreida) and the late Gerald. Brother-in-law of Carolyn Dear Friend of Martha Waroway.

Memorials appreciated to American Legion Post 386 Frank J. Calcaterra 21555 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe MI 48021 or Selfridge Air Museum 127 WG/MU 27333 C Street Bldg. 1011 Selfridge ANG Base MI US 48045