Richard S. Duff, of Sylvania, OH died peacefully Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania,Ohio, where he had lived for the past several years. He was born in St Louis, MO in 1936 to Richard D. and Marguerite Duff, and spent most of hi
Richard S. Duff, of Sylvania, OH died peacefully Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania,Ohio, where he had lived for the past several years. He was born in St Louis, MO in 1936 to Richard D. and Marguerite Duff, and spent most of hi
Richard S. Duff, of Sylvania, OH died peacefully Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania,Ohio, where he had lived for the past several years.
He was born in St Louis, MO in 1936 to Richard D. and Marguerite Duff, and spent most of his early years in Toledo. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Adams Duff, who he married in 1966; by his parents; and by his daughter Paula Adams Krall. He leaves to mourn his passing his sons Alan Adams, Sylvania, OH and Patrick Adams, Ann Arbor, MI; his daughters Laurie Gay Meidt (Rick), Woodbridge, VA, Mary Adams Geronimo (Ed Mehler), Shaker Heights, OH, Chris Adams Gardner (Bill), Charlotte, NC and Amy Adams Norwood, Raleigh, NC; his sister Nancy Killen (Bill) of NY, and his brother David (Pam) of Beijing and Los Angeles; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Dick was a graduate of Devilbiss High School and attended the University of Toledo. He worked as a foreman at Allied Chemical for many years, and moved to the accounting department at The Anderson's after he was injured in an auto accident in 1977. On weekends, he and and his wife Fran worked scoring major events at numerous short tracks throughout Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
When not traveling throughout the Midwest, they both worked as chief scorers for the Automobile Racing Club of America and at both Flat Rock (MI) and Toledo Speedways. Dick frequently contributed news articles from the races to the National Speed Sport News, MARC Times, and Mid-American Racing News. Additionally, he was a Charter Member of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club since 1965, and served as the group's publicity director until he moved to North Carolina in 1985.
Once in Charlotte, he served as head of accounting for DiGard Racing, and later Hendrick Motorsports. While at Hendrick Motorsports, Dick was part of an organization that won over 100 NASCAR races and 6 championships. He retired from Hendrick Motorsports shortly after being honored by team owner Rick Hendrick for 20 years of service in 2007.
Dick's grandson Charles Krall is the play-by-play voice of the ARCA Racing Series broadcasts on ARCARacing.com as well as the public address announcer at Michigan International Speedway.
The family wishes to thank and commend the staff of C Hall, second floor at Kingston Care Center, who lovingly cared for Dick in his years as a resident, and who helped see him through to the end.
The family will receive guests at Coyle Funeral Home, Reynolds Rd., Toledo, Thursday, April 24, 2014 3 - 7pm; a memorial service will immediately follow.