https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/starnewsonline/obituary.aspx?n=richard-b-gruelle-dick&pid=129724413
Richard B. (Dick) Gruelle, 84, of Wilmington, died July 10 at his home, surrounded by family. Mr. Gruelle is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Gruelle of Wilmington; stepmother Marie Gruelle of Clearwater, Florida; son David Gruelle and his wife Jennie Gruelle of Wilmington; daughter Emily Hickey and her husband Jeff Hickey of Wilmington; daughter Martha Gruelle and her husband Ken Paff of Detroit; as well as many grandchildren and three beautiful great grandchildren.
Mr. Gruelle, who grew up in Indianapolis and Frankfort, Indiana, retired from a career with Kimberly Clark Corporation that followed his service in Europe during World War II. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Carolyn, he moved his young family to Wilmington in 1958, where he enjoyed the ocean and later became an accomplished sailor. Dick and Carolyn made several memorable cruising trips along the east coast. Dick was a life-long jazz fan, and on occasion planned lineups for local public radio shows. He cared deeply about civil rights and tolerance; was an avid reader of mysteries, politics, and history; and maintained a ready wit and a skill at story telling that lasted until the end.
Memorial services will be held Friday, July 17, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4313 Lake Avenue, in Wilmington; a reception will follow. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WHQR Radio, 254 N. Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, NC 28401 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.atlanticcremation.com
Atlantic Cremation Service, Wilmington, NC
Online condolences at StarNewsOnline.com
Published in the Wilmington Star-News on July 14, 2009
Family Members
Parents
Harry Richard Gruelle
1902–1989
Vera Jean Heller Gruelle
1898–1969
