DENNISPORT, Mass. — Richard William Kingman passed away unexpectedly on April 1, 2020, in Hyannis Hospital due to COVID-19. He was born on Dec. 24, 1940, to Raymond and Helen (Naylor) Kingman in Vergennes, Vt.
Dick grew up in Leicester and graduated from Brandon High School in 1957, then he and his parents moved to Middlebury to open Kingman’s Market. He married Sandra Smith in 1961 and celebrated the birth of his two children.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His four years in the Air Force took him to England, where he was recruited to play for their highly competitive base softball team. After his honorable discharge, he returned home to Vermont, where he was employed at Polymer’s Plastic Shop for 47 years. There he made many lifelong friends. He started out at Polymers doing machine shift work and was promoted to their Lab and retired in 2012 as their top salesman.
He enjoyed many of these years playing softball for Polymers and a few other softball teams in Bristol. The love of his children and sports was very evident in that he always managed to change his work schedule so that he could cheer his kids on at their games or horse shows. Dick also enjoyed playing golf, walking his dog and spending time with family and friends as he got older. He was fiercely devoted to his New England sports teams and enjoyed family rivalries.
He is survived by his significant other, Linda Shea of Dennisport, Mass.; his two children, Michael Kingman (Pamela) of New Haven and Laurie (Kingman) Pratt (Corey) of Bridport; three grandchildren, Alexandra Kingman, Sean Kingman (Taylor) and Devyn Pratt; and one great-grandchild, Mayven Kingman.
A graveside service and burial will be held at a further date. Memorial gifts instead of flowers can be made in his memory to the Addison County Humane Society d/b/a Homeward Bound, 236 Boardman St., Middlebury, VT 05753.
Arrangements under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences at Sandersonfuneralservice.com.◊