Obituary of Richard Wayne Wynkoop

Richard Wayne Wynkoop, 37, of Strattanville, died Thursday afternoon, June 30, 2011 at Clarion Hospital after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Born November 28, 1973, in Clarion, he was the son of Marilyn Hale of Cooksburg and the late Gerald "Jack" Wynkoop. Richard was a 1991 graduate of North Clarion High School. He then served in the U.S. Army for 11 years. He graduated in 2003 from Dubois Business College and graduated in 2005 from IUP Police Academy. Upon graduating from the police academy, he worked as a park ranger at Cook Forest, was a police officer at Knox, a sheriff's deputy at Clarion County Sheriff Department and was a police officer at Fort Indiantown Gap, where he later retired due to medical reasons. Richard was a member of the Church of Christ in Clarion. He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the Cancer Center at Clarion sent him to the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl, this year. He enjoyed riding ATV's, fishing and playing the guitar. In addition to his mother, Marilyn Hale of Cooksburg, Richard is survived by the love of his life, Melissia Bemis of Strattanville. He is survived by a brother, Randall Wynkoop of Las Vegas, Nevada and 3 step-sisters: Chris Keener of Clarion, Debbie Boden of Maryland and April Berney of Erie and 1 step-brother, Jerry Wynkoop of Brookville, and an uncle, Fred Hale of Georgia. He is also survived by his two best friends, Doug Harris and Steve Mazik. In addition he is survived by his loyal companion, his dog, Chloe. In addition to his father, Gerald "Jack" Wynkoop who preceded him in death in 2002, he was preceded in death by his Grandma Helen Hale in 2009 and his uncle David Michael Hale. Friends and family may call on Tuesday, July 5, from 2-4 & 7-9 at the Borland Funeral Home, Inc. in Leeper. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Kip Penrod, pastor from Carlisle, PA, officiating. Interment will follow in the Scotch Hill Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to the Clarion Cancer Center in Clarion.