Obituary of Richard L. Faulkner

Richard L. "Dick" Faulkner, of 1499 South Ave., passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at his home, following a lengthy illness. Dick was born on June 1, 1934 in Olean and was a son of Chester William "Chet" and Evelyn Jordan Faulkner. On July 26, 1953, he married his wife of almost 64 years, Alberta Mae Cornell, who survives. Dick was a 1952 graduate of Portville Central School. He was a lifelong contractor and developer, having built his first house on his own when he was just 14 years old. Dick built many of the houses on both Goodrich and Martha Avenues in Olean, as well as having worked on many commercial buildings in and around this area. He cleared and mowed many acres of his south Olean property, where he and his wife built and owned Faulkner Apartments, which his children carry on. Dick was instrumental in the planning of the East Olean and South Olean Sewer Districts and the installation of the East Olean Sewer District. Dick was a talented man with a huge imagination who also was great teacher and believed in the "Tuff Love" approach. He was a great inspiration to his family and many others and will be remembered as a man who was overflowing with plans and dreams, many of which he completed and some he did not. Dick was a man that never stopped living and dreaming. Along with his loving wife, Dick is survived by four children, Vickie (John) Tuttle, Cindy (Mike) Disorbo, Randy (Joni) Faulkner and Wendy Snyder all of Olean; nine grandchildren, John Tuttle, III, Richard Lee (Maggie) Tuttle, Ronnie (Val) Turek, Jason Turek, Tina Turek, Nathan Faulkner, Nicholas Faulkner, Stephen (Tammy) Snyder, and Christopher Snyder; nine great grandchildren, Tyler Turek, Jacob, Jared and Jordan Turek, Korrie and Kia Turek, Maggie Faulkner, Kayla Snyder, and Sebastian Richard Tuttle; four siblings, Chester "Skip", Robert "Bob" and Donald (Sue) Faulkner and Diane Shaw all of the Olean-Portville area; and many nieces & nephews. Friends will be received for a Memorial Gathering at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., #646 E. State Street, Olean on Monday, April 17, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Gathering outside at his home around and the ponds at 1499 South Avenue, will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 4:00 PM (just after his birthday) to celebrate his life. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the HomeCare and Hospice, #1225 West State Street, Olean, New York 14760 or to the Town of Olean Fire Department, #1297 Old Rock City Road, Olean, New York 14760. Online condolences may be made by clicking the button above.