Richard Howland Stackhouse
Boynton Beach, FL, formerly of Indianapolis, IN
Richard Stackhouse, 93, passed away on May 24, 2017 in Boynton Beach, FL.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 70 years, Jean C. Stackhouse, his brother Robert Stackhouse, and his sister, Jean Allerdice. Left with wonderful memories of him are daughters Linda (Mark) Poole, Marcia (Chuck) Scull; granddaughters Kathryn Poole, Melissa (Dave) Denham, Trisha McLaughlin; great-grandchildren Samantha and Makenna McLaughlin, and Cole and Crosby Denham, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by devoted extended family Barbara and Dick Green, Sandy and Geoff Lamb, Laura Hadley-Green and John Hadley, Dave and Diana Green, and Kathy and Jim Pawlak.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Dick attended Shortridge High and Purdue University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the #1 team captain on the golf team.
He entered the Army Air Corps in 1942, serving as a 1st Lieutenant and bombardier on a B-24, flying 32 missions beginning in May 1944 including D-Day. He was awarded 3 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Richard worked for the A.V. Stackhouse Construction Company, founded by his father, and served as president of the company for nine years.
Richard was President of the Indianapolis 500 Festival in 1960. That year he started the 500 Festival Open (golf tournament) and brought Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Billy Casper to Indianapolis to play in the newly created PGA Pro Tournament that at the time was the 4th largest purse on the tour ($50,000). Richard loved the Indy 500. He counted laps for the Speedway during races in the 1930s and attended all but one 500 from 1947 until he was no longer able to travel to Indy for the race in 2010.
He was a member of Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis and Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, FL, and held 12 club championship titles between the two clubs. In 2004, he was elected to the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame and was one of the seven original members of the Society of Seniors (SOS) golf organization.
Richard was President of the Indiana Golf Association from 1963-1964, Vice-President of the Western Golf Association from 1967-1972, helped found Evans Scholars Houses at Indiana and Purdue Universities, was a Director of the Southern Golf Association from 1964-1990, and served on the USGA Rules Committee from 1969-1988 providing on-site rulings for 15 consecutive U.S. Opens.
He was an active member of Seacrest Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon, elder, and elder emeritus.
A special thank you to the staff at Rehab Home Health and the staff of Sonata Boynton Beach Building 2 for their care of Dad. All of you brightened his life.
Dad was devoted to his wife, loved golf and the Indy 500, and knew the name of every Kentucky Derby winner and the year they won. He considered himself the Rembrandt of Christmas tree decoration and took pride in using as many lights as possible. He told great stories, was the life of every party and had a long and happy life. He will be missed by everyone whose life he touched.
Memorial service to be held on Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at Seacrest Presbyterian Church, 2703 N. Seacrest Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33444. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to Seacrest Presbyterian Church or to Southeast Florida Honor Flight, P.O. Box 1503, Stuart, FL 34995.