Richard Sholley Light

Richard Sholley Light, son of Ralph Hostetter Light and Emily Catherine Sholley Light, was born in Annville, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1930.  The third of five siblings, he was a hard-working young man who was very involved in student government, serving as class president both in high school and college. He played on his high school soccer, basketball and track teams, and was always up for whatever other sports his buddies were playing.  Rick paid his own way through college at West Chester State Teachers College in Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education.  Upon graduation from college, Rick entered the Air Force and trained to be a navigator.  While at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, he drove home on a weekend pass to marry the love of his life, Pat Knoll, on May 9, 1953.  Rick and Pat immediately returned to Texas, this time to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio.  From there, Pat accompanied Rick as he moved from base to base until October, 1953, when he was sent to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. When Rick returned to the United States in June of 1954, he was sent to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. In spite of Rick’s continuing training and temporary duty assignments, Rick and Pat bought their first house and welcomed their two children, Paula Sue and Richard Kevin, into the world in Topeka.  In 1960, Rick was assigned to Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  At Westover, Rick participated in the Cold War as part of the Strategic Air Command.  In 1964, he received an honorable discharge from the military. Later, he returned to the Air Force as a member of the reserves for four years.  Upon leaving the Air Force, Rick sold real estate and insurance for Crosier-Chaffee Insurance Agency, then moved to the position of media consultant and sales manager for Fran-Tek Film and Audio Visual Service company.  From there, he found a good fit as the media specialist at Amherst College.  He filmed many high school and college basketball and football games and lugged audio visual equipment all over campus during his years at Amherst College.  During the 1960’s, Rick and Pat experienced a meaningful encounter with the Lord that changed their lives. One of their passions was singing, and they sang for years in a quartet that they formed with their closest friends, Elaine and Wyman Harrington.  With the Harringtons and a few others, they founded Living Gate Christian Center in Granby, Massachusetts.  They went on to become active members of College Church in Northampton, and later, Stony Brook Community Church in South Hadley.  Rick is remembered for strong dedication to the Lord through his service and self-sacrifice.  He always put his wife and family first.  He sent both of his children halfway across the country to the college of their choice, Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and made sure their educations were fully funded.  Even before Paula left home, Rick helped Pat to open their home to people in need of a place to stay.  He provided church leadership as deacon, elder, choir member, minstrel singer, office worker, whatever was needed, wherever he could be of service.  In 2021, Rick was faced with the hard decision to leave his beloved New England and Pennsylvania roots and move with Pat into Paula’s home in Texas, where they could receive the care they needed during their final days.  Many who knew Rick and Pat continued to reach out to them through cards, phone calls, and constant prayer support.  Dan and Paula were privileged to host a number of extended family members who came just to check on Rick and Pat and reassure them of their love.  Rick leaves behind a powerful legacy of family and friends who cherished him and Pat, and a powerful testimony to the grace of God in lives that are dedicated to Him.  On August 11, 2023, following a second battle with covid, Rick left his home on earth and entered his new home in Glory. Rick was preceded in death by Pat, his loving wife of 70 years, his parents and brother Ralph Stanley Light.  He is survived by siblings Doris Gerber, Carl Light and Marilyn Boeshore, daughter Paula and husband Dan Darby, son Richard Kevin Light and wife Margaret, grandchildren Kelly Stevens, Matthew Darby, Emily Franklin, Kevin Darby, Rebecca Darby, Tim Light, Alex Light and Jake Light, great-grandchildren Lily Stevens, Valerie Stevens, Julie Stevens, Gus Darby, Nya Franklin, Emery Franklin and Cooper Frederick Light, and many, many extended family members, friends and loved ones all over the world.