Richard J. Kline

FOUNDER OF K&W TIRE COMPANY Richard J. Kline of East Petersburg died at his home Sunday evening of natural causes.He was 97 years old. Born in 1917, Richard was the youngest child of Charles B. and Jennie M. (Trump) Kline of Klinesville, and husband of Lucille I. (Kaylor) Kline of Deodate, to whom he was married for 72 years. He was a 1934 graduate of Columbia High School. During his lifetime, Richard served his country and his community in many ways. A Staff Sergeant in the 84th Infantry (“Railsplitters”) Division of the Army in WW II, he was a communications specialist who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the Bronze Star and 3 battle stars. After returning to civilian life, Richard resumed a successful management career with Dunlop Tire Corporation, and in 1951, co-founded K&W Tire Company in his beloved hometown of Lancaster. He took great pride in the ongoing success of the business, and maintained a passion for it until his death. In addition to his business career, Richard strongly believed in community service. During his long lifetime, he held various positions within local organizations. He was Cub Master of the East Petersburg Scout Troop, a six-time Paul Harris Fellow of the Lancaster Rotary Club in which he was a member for 26 years, with 18 years of perfect attendance, and was Treasurer of the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority for 16 years. He was recognized for distinguished service to the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, and was President of the Lancaster County Art Association. He served two terms on the East Petersburg Borough council, and was elected Mayor of East Petersburg in 1969. Richard was also lay President of the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church in East Petersburg, and sat on the church council for eight years. He received the Hempfield Jaycee’s distinguished Service Award for Community Activities. Richard had a love for boating, and served as Commodore of the NE River Yacht Club, where he and his wife enjoyed many years of boating on the Chesapeake. They are longstanding members of the Covenant Methodist Church of Lancaster. While community service was important to Richard, the center of his life was his family. He was a devoted son and husband, and a loving and proud father and grandfather. Richard is survived by his wife, Lucille, two sons, G. Richard Kline and his wife, Nancy Whitehead Kline, and Kenneth E. Kline and his wife, Rebecca Craft Kline, and four grandchildren, John Kline, Sarah Kline, Hollis Kline Adams, and Benjamin Kline. He was looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild in April. Visitors will be received at Covenant United Methodist Church, corner of West Orange and Mulberry Street Lancaster, PA at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 15, with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Following the Interment at the Silver Spring Cemetery family and friends are invited to a reception, location to be announced, to celebrate Richard’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations, in Richards’s name, may be made to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604 or a charity of your choice.

Richard J. Kline

November 12, 2014