Richard Perry “bad to the” Bone
Saint Louis South County- Richard P. Bone, 72, passed away in his home on September 9, 2021. He was born December 9, 1948 in Buick, Missouri, the son of Riley and Virginia (Barton) Bone. Richard graduated from McKinley High School, class of 1967, and later attended college at Saint Louis Forest Park Community College. After High School graduation Richard voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army and deployed to Vietnam. He later enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served 2 years before reenlisting in the Army, where he served the rest of his military career until retirement. He earned many military awards and decorations throughout his service including a Purple Heart with one bronze oak leaf cluster, and a Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, which was awarded in recognition of deeds of valor or heroic conduct while in combat with the enemy. His service in Vietnam led to severe disability later in life, as the effects of Agent Orange exposure caused him numerous health problems including Parkinson’s Disease. The cause of his death was determined to be Parkinson’s with dementia.
Richard married his wife Deborah (Blumstengel) Bone in 1985, they later separated in 2006 but remained married. Richard worked as a security guard for many years after he retired from the military. His last place of employment was in the dietary department of Alexian Brothers Sherbrooke Village nursing home where he retired from in 2006. Richard had a deep love for music, dancing, singing, telling jokes and making people laugh. He was a kind and honest man with a generous heart. A loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a proud member of Disabled American Veterans.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Edna Smith and Goldie Bunch, and brothers Stanley, Roger, Eddie, Moses, and David. Surviving in addition to his wife Deborah (Blumstengel) Bone, are his devoted and heartbroken daughter and caregiver, Kayla Bone, sons Mark Bone and Jason Pound, grandchildren Ian Chase, Justin Pound, Dylan Pound, brothers Ronald Bone, John Bone and his wife Brenda, and many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held 11 a.m. Friday, September 24th at Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, 63129. Visitation will be 11-1 p.m., service from 1-1:40 followed by procession to Jefferson Barracks for his burial with military honors ceremony.
Today is Monday, June 12, 2023. Apparently, Rich has been gone about a year and a half now. I have been searching for my old friend Richard P. Bone for the past several years. Unfortunately for me, I found Rich too late. Rich and I go back to our pretzel selling days on the street corners of St. Louis in the mid-1960s. “Richs’ Corner” was Riverview and W. Florissant next to Calvary Cemetery……. On the evening of Sept 10, 1970, an interesting evening for us, as I happened to receive 3 unexpected excellent seats to see Elvis at Kiel Auditorium, which Richard and his brother Moses attended with me……. Rich and I traveled together and vacationed in Homestead, Florida for five weeks in June-July 1971….. I remember when Rich was discharged from the Army the first time, then later he was discharged from the Marines. I knew his brothers Stanley, Eddie, and Moses as well as his father Riley and his mother…. I briefly met his wife in the mid-1980’s, then I lost contact with Rich for many years. In or around 2020, I attempted to locate Rich, unsuccessfully. In Sept 2021, I lost my brother Marvin Closser, a veteran from 1962. Coincidentally, Richard passed away the day before we had my brother Marvins funeral at Kutis on Lemay Ferry Rd on Sept 10, 2021. I did not know any of this until today. Richard would have his own visitation at this same Kutis Chapel on Lemay Ferry Rd. exactly two weeks later on Sept 24, 2021. My search for my friend has now ended. I will always remember Rich. Farewell, my old friend.