Richard Glenn 'Dick' Mcgowan

On Saturday, May 1, 2010 Richard Glenn “Dick” McGowan, 74, of Canadohta Lake passed away quietly at the V.A. Hospital hospice unit in Erie surrounded by those he loved, and who so loved him.  Dick was born in Cochranton, PA on August 5, 1935.  He was the 6th of 8 children born to Ruth Isabelle McCarl McGowan and Francis Victor McGowan.

Dick was one of the most gregarious individuals you could ever know. His ever present smile and jovial “What do you say?” was his signature greeting for all he knew. Outgoing, witty, and always the eternal optimist, Dick was generally seen with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other (most of which was spilled on his shirt).

Wherever Dick went, so went his guitar.  He never hesitated to pull out his guitar to add some life to any party, or just to an afternoon in Grandma’s kitchen.  He frequently stopped unannounced on Sunday afternoons to entertain the residents at the old Crawford County Home.  Everyone there knew Dick and his children, and would flock to the common room to hear the old tunes that were so familiar to them. The residents couldn’t think of one song that Dick didn’t know at least a little bit of. He had a song repertoire that was incredibly large as well as incredibly diverse.

Dick was a published and recorded song writer as well as a much loved musician.  As a child, Dick and his late brother and sister Tuck and Marge would join their father when he played in various bands singing 3 part harmony with the groups. In the 70‘s Dick and his 2 late brothers Tuck and Bob along with their “adopted brother” Ted Walczak, formed the country music group “The Playboys”.  Dick was the lead singer and rhythm guitar player.  “The Playboys” entertained for more events than could be listed here, and in various local clubs for nearly 20 years (most notably the Saegertown American Legion as the house band).

Dick always enjoyed playing with a variety of different musicians, most of which just happened to be his own family members, as well as “adopted McGowans”.  Dick rarely ever missed the weekly jam sessions that went on for years at his brother Bob’s house.  Even after Bob’s passing, Dick continued to “jam” with his friends Max and Larry until the very end when he could no longer hold his guitar and the lyrics were lost to him.

Dick served his country in the US Army from 1956-1958 following which he had a wide range of occupations.  He spent many years in the paint department at Erie Lackawana Railroad and Conrail.  He was also a salesman for Standard Coffee for several years and a sales rep. for the former WVCC radio in Linesville. But most notably, Dick owned and operated McGowan Music store where he hosted a continuous “jam session” with anyone who happened in.  He wanted so much to put a guitar in every person’s hands who had a desire to play, and did all that he could to do just that.

Prior to his retirement, Dick spent several years working at Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in Franklin, PA.  Dick was very active in AA and had enjoyed almost 40 years of sobriety.  He helped hundreds of people as a sponsor and a mentor, giving various speeches to groups and offering friendship and understanding to so many.  Through AA, Dick made incredibly wonderful, lifelong friends.

Dick was a true “character” in every sense of the word. With his signature cowboy boots, white beard, and deep, booming voice, he was truly impossible to miss in any crowd. Dick was known for being a bit (okay, a lot) clumsy, yet a beautiful and graceful dancer (go figure).  Dick rarely said “no” to a dare, and consequently gave those around him many, many laughs and wonderful memories.  Whether it be jumping off a giant rock into the water on a family canoeing trip, or whacking himself in the ankle during a spirited game of croquet, Dick always left you with a story to tell of his antics.

Dick love to play cards with family and friends.  He made a simple card game, so much fun with his verbal jabs and “pained” expressions when he was losing a hand.  In his later years, Dick discovered casinos. He enjoyed going to nearby ones as well as a few trips to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he rarely left a winner but he often left with a bunch of new friends from the table he sat at.

Car races also became a passion of Dick’s.  He absolutely loved to go to the races (the sprint cars were his favorites) with his dearest and most devoted friend Max Weiss, where they both supported and cheered for Rod George almost weekly in the summer months of his final years.

Dick was a wonderfully expressive storyteller, loving to reminisce about the past and telling hilarious stories of his antics as a youth. Dick loved telling a good joke, and would laugh at himself while telling it. He made it impossible not to laugh too (even if you’d heard it a hundred times).

Dick was a wonderful listener and incredibly devoted friend.  Anyone lucky enough to get his ear, could pour out their problems to him, and he would attentively listen and offer his understanding to them.  He never made anyone feel as if their problems were inconsequential to him, he genuinely cared for his fellow man and was an excellent example of Christian love.

Dick’s generosity was probably the one trait that was his finest and most “all encompassing”.  He was never meant to win the lottery.  He would’ve been penniless within the first year, because no one would’ve been turned away with a request for money.  But Dick’s generosity was more about his willingness to share of himself, and he never held back.  He gave everything he was to the world, and the world gave him an amazing run.  He is one man who you can genuinely say, “loved life”.

As a single father, Dick was incredibly loving and devoted to his children. He encouraged his children to love life and to love music as much as he did. He so enjoyed singing with them, and they with him.

Dick did an incredible job of showing his children how much he loved them. Every birthday, Christmas, or even Easter card had a long, handwritten message telling them how special they were to him and how proud he was of them. You couldn’t possibly read a card from Dick and not shed a tear at his sincerity.

Dick was also a fun father who welcomed every one of his children’s friends into his home without exception or limits; and he was also often available to those friends when life was difficult for them.  He offered his home to them with no hesitation.  Many, many, many kids came and went through the doors of Dick’s home and always knew that they were welcome, and welcome back again.

Dick was fortunate to find an incredibly loving woman Christene Adam Brucker, whom he married April 4, 2002.  Chris and Dick packed a lifetime of memories in the few years that they had together, traveling, boating, going to church and bible studies, entertaining scores of people in their Canadohta Lake home, and just living the fullest life they could. They enjoyed watching the addition of many new grandchildren and nephews to their family over the past few years, and enjoyed them immensely.

Chris cared for Dick so lovingly until the very end.  She was by his side, holding his hand as he left on his journey to Heaven.

A few months before dying, Dick joked that he hoped that his brothers had remembered to bring their guitars to heaven so they could “jam”.  We can all be assured that they are making beautiful music for the Lord.

In addition to his wife, Christene, he is survived by two daughters, Lisa Guerrini and her husband Rich of Cranberry Twp and Dedra Lynn Cavanagh of Meadville; a son, Mark McGowan and his wife Sara of Plant City, FL; two step-daughters, Laura Hagerty and her husband Charles "Skip" of Titusville and Tiffany Crumbliss and her husband Chris of Breckenridge, CO; a step-son, Vincent Brucker and his wife Amy of Centerville; two brothers, William McGowan of Blooming Valley and Ronald McGowan and his wife Karol of Guys Mills; nineteen grandchildren, Sammy and Gabriella Guerrini, Timothy Jaison Cavanagh, Tate Benton Snedeker, Mark, Sean, Celean, Catherine and Liam McGowan, Merry Maya and Ellis Crumbliss, Niki, Bailey and Layna Hagerty, Katey, Karlee and Dean Mihailov and Garrett and Gabriel Brucker; three sisters-in-law, Lucille (Cele) McGowan of Meadville, Alice McGowan of Meadville and Evelyn McGowan of Blooming Valley and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Marion Freyermuth and Marjorie Ruth Hart; three brothers, Thomas (Tuck), Robert and Paul McGowan and a sister-in-law, Leola Maxine McGowan.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA

The funeral service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Glen Van Cise, Pastor of Chapmanville Community Church, officiating.

Interment will be in Blooming Valley Cemetery.