Obituaries
Richard C. Harclerode, 75
Richard C. Harclerode, 75, Lancaster, died Thursday, April 3 at Hospice of Lancaster County due to complications of lymphoma. Born July 16, 1933 in Everett, PA, Dick was the son of the late Thomas Joseph Harclerode and Alberta Schetrompf Harclerode Noel. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan, and daughter Beth, married to Daniel Coast of Alexandria, VA, and twin grandchildren Samuel and Eliza.
After graduating from Everett High School in 1951, Dick served in the U.S. Air Force before receiving an honorable discharge in order to run his father’s barbershop business. He attended Hagerstown Barber School and was a teacher of barbering.
Dick received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Millersville University, and began his career in education as an industrial arts teacher at Conestoga Valley High School. He earned his principal certificate from Temple University, and was employed by the Hempfield School District as an industrial arts teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal. He established Olde Towne Interiors in 1984.
He was active in the Jaycees, serving as Leola chapter charter member and president, Lancaster County East Chapter president, and one of 12 regional vice presidents in Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Jaycee International Senate in recognition of his numerous contributions to the Jaycee organization.
An avid amateur radio enthusiast, Dick built his own radios and communicated with his brother and nephew on a daily basis. His call sign W3JPS was a resource recognized by national relief organizations to provide telephone patches for area missionaries stationed in Africa. He served as president of the Lancaster Radio Transmitters Society.
He shared interest in and knowledge of horses as a 4-H Boots & Saddles Club leader, providing pony rides to local youth. He chaperoned trail rides and overnight camping trips with the Circle T Riders, and showed registered quarterhorses with his daughter Beth. Big Red was his beloved Tennessee Walker.
Dick worked tirelessly for the Lanco Federal Credit Union, serving as chairman of the board of directors for over 35 years. He helped to guide Lanco from its early days in the 1970s when it operated from the back of a classroom at Hempfield High School into a full-service financial institution with four locations open to any individual who resides or works in Lancaster County. A flagpole honoring Dick’s countless contributions to Lanco was dedicated in 2002.
He was a 32nd Degree Free and Accepted Mason, and a member of Jaffa Shrine, as well as the B.P.O.E. Lancaster Lodge No. 134. A licensed real estate agent, Dick also served for many years as a partner and officer of HemTech, a property management business he co-founded. He was civil defense director for Upper Leacock Township, past chairperson of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Leacock Township Democratic Committee member, and held memberships in PA State Education Association, National Education Association, Secondary School Principals Association, and Lancaster-Lebanon Secondary Principals Association.
Additional survivors include his brothers Thomas, married to Kathleen, of Everett, Jack, of Lewisburg, and sister Colleen June, married to Ray Lapp of LaVale, Maryland, and seven nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at a viewing on Sunday, April 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 6 at Saint James Episcopal Church, corner of North Duke and East Orange Streets in Lancaster, PA, with The Reverend John W. Symonds officiating. Graveside services with military honors will be at Everett Cemetery on Tuesday, April 7 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Dick’s memory be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17603. To send online condolences please visit snyderfuneralhome.com.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Beth,
I am so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this most difficult time of loss. I have such fond memories of Uncle Dick. We always had such a great time when we got to visit with him.
With caring and love,
Cousin Laurie
I am so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. You were both a special part of our ’76 high school family and he will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in the difficult days ahead.
Roger Brubaker
Mrs. Harclerode i am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Harclerode will be missed. Especially by the education system. We need more men like him. Once again I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Brian Nice
Please accept my sympathy on the passing of Dick. I knew him several years ago when he was a graduate student at Temple University, where he earned his secondary school principal’s certificate. Although I had not seen him since then, I remember him as a very pleasant, capable student. I am confident he made a significant contribution to the schools where he served.
Donald L. Walters
Professor Emeritus
Temple University
Mrs. Harclerode,
My deepest sympathies to you and your family and may God give you comfort. I was deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Harclerode’s passing. Although I was often in your husbands office for some infraction of school rules, he always treated me kindly and with respect even when I didn’t deserve it. He was a remarkable man who truly cared about his students and wanted us all to succeed in our lives. God bless you.
Mary (Bucks) Elbert
Class of 1981
Susie,
Our most heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and the family. Dick was a very special person and friend. The weeks and months ahead will be an adjustment but knowing that our Lord and Savior is by your side, will make these times alot easier. God bless you!
Joyce & Terry Gehman
Beth & Family- So sorry to hear about your father. I have fond memories and one amusing haircut moment of your father. I know that this is a very difficult time but I wanted to let you know that my thoughts are with you and your family.
Rick
Dear Susan—We have a small prayer group that met on Tuesday—Rhonda Lapp shared with us and as a neighbor Irl and I send you our thoughts and prayers. May you be sustained by the Lord’s presence through this great loss. We did not know Dick well, but he was larger than life—accomplished an amazing amount in his life.
Thinking of you and your family during this time.
Irl and Lois Duling
824 Stumpf Hill Drive
Lancaster, Pa 17601
Sue,
I was very saddened to hear of Dick’s passing. It is very rare for a high school principal to have a meaningful relationship with students, but Dick was the unique individual who could pull it off. Could it really be 33 years ago that we were painting his office? We’ll always remember him fondly.
Jay Bryson
Dear Susie.
I was so honored that you, my dear friend, had asked me to be in your wedding. That was the first time John and I met Dick. From the very beginning, Dick made us feel comfortable, easy to talk with, and great fun to be together. He was the kind of person you took a liking to right away.
We knew then that he was your soulmate, and you were destined to be together.
Both of you are very special, and John and I feel blessed to have you as our friends.
Susie, we know you will miss Dick terribly, but know that he will be with you always. May your memories comfort you, and may God give you peace and strength to face the days ahead. You are in our prayers.
Love, Holly and John
Dear Sue, Beth & All of Dick’s Loved Ones,
May your cherished memories of Dick
bring you Comfort…
May the many prayers of those who share in
your loss bring you Peace.
Dick certainly did fight the good fight.
He was an amazing man in every way.
We will all miss his smiling face.
How blessed Dick was to have you
there caring for him.
What a blessing for Sue & Beth to have
been with Dick
when he departed this life.
May Dick Rest in Peace .
May God Bless you & give you strength
at this very sad time.
Our deepest sympathy & love,
Ellen & Paul
xxoo
Dear Susie, Beth, and family of Dick,
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for your loss of husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle. We only met Dick twice but knew how happy he and Susie were together. What a wonderful man he was, and we know he will be greatly missed by all. May you all celebrate the life of this great man, and carry wonderful memories of him with you the rest of your lives. God’s peace be with you,
Linda and Glenn Morrison
college friend of Susie’s from IUP
Sue,
Dick had not only been a principal to me, but also a friend. I did get to see him every so often when the alarm would go off at his business in Lancaster..(purposely answered it even when I was a platoon Lieutenant..just to visit) He was always upbeat even the last time I saw him which was about a year ago..and he would call and congratulate me on each promotion with the City Police which meant so much to me. What a special man he was and he will be missed. I am so sorry for your loss and was so blessed to have known him. Take care, Cindy Mackison Shirk (Class of 76)
