Rick L. VanGilder

Rick L. VanGilder, 72 of Bristol, passed away on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 in his home.

He was born on March 27, 1943 in Tulsa, Okla. to Ralph E. and Jewel F. (Gordon) VanGilder. He married Georgia E. Gorsuch on May 28, 1976 in Ponca City, Okla. She died on Sept. 1, 2010. Surviving is a son, Rick (Christen) VanGilder of Pensacola, FL and a daughter, Jamie (Hal) Casey of Collinsville, OK; 4 grandchildren, Joshua and Jordan Byers and Jameson and Ella VanGilder; 1 great-granddaughter, Whitley Byers and a sister, Shirley Rycroft of Yukon, OK. He was preceded in death by a brother, Gene VanGilder and his parents.

Rick served in the U.S. Navy and was the Ship’s bugler. He attended Oklahoma State University and was a licensed real estate broker and was the owner of Burton Real Estate since 1996. He previously was the corporate controller for Bivouac Industries in Vandalia, MI. He served as president of the Elkhart County Board of Realtors in 2000 and president of the MLS in 2004 and was named realtor of the year in 2001. He loved snowmobiling and camping. He was a member of Adamsville Road Church of God, the Loyal Order of Moose #599 and AA.

Visitation for Rick will be from 11 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, Dec.22nd at the Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart where services will be held at 1 pm. Interment will follow at Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol with military honors.

Memorials may be given to Adamsville Road Church of God. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.

Visitation is 2 hours prior to service