NAPLES, Fla. - Richard “Dick” Archer, 92, formerly of Compton, passed away Oct. 10, 2021 near Blairsville, Ga.
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NAPLES, Fla. - Richard “Dick” Archer, 92, formerly of Compton, passed away Oct. 10, 2021 near Blairsville, Ga.
A private Memorial Service will be held for family at a later date to honor both Dick and his son, Artie, who passed away July 22.
Dick was born Aug. 17, 1929 in Rochelle to William and Ione (Olsen) Archer.
Survivors include one son, Kerry Archer, formerly of Naples, Fla., currently residing in Murphy, N.C.; five granddaughters, Corinne (Jason) Bock of Dixon, Kimberly Archer of Edwardsville, Kristen Archer of Metro Atlanta, Ga., Kate (Timothy) McGrath of Charlotte, and April (Michael) Leitshuh of Metro Denver; and many nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita (Jahn) Archer of Lee Center; one daughter, Kala Rae Archer of Steward; and one son, L. Kenneth “Artie” Archer of Naples, Fla., formerly of Mendota.
Dick was a “lover of life” with an adventurous spirit. He liked to tell people that he started out as “a poor, ole dirt farmer” but ended up seeing the world, with trips to The Panama Canal (twice), Alaska (twice, once via the Alcan Hwy., and again when he flew in a mail plane over the North Pole), the Bahamas, Hawaii, the Statue of Liberty, Washington, D.C., London, the Eiffel Tower, Germany, Switzerland, and walked The Great Wall of China. He visited every National Park in the U.S. and followed U.S. Highway 1 all around the perimeter of the United States. Dick never seemed happier than when he got his beloved RV out, ready to “take sail” on another trip. He loved driving and one of the hardest things he ever had to face was giving up his license.
Dick also loved music - Big Band music, music you could dance to and oh, how he loved to dance. You could always find him at the Naples Cambier Park Bandshell at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons because that was when the Naples Jazz Orchestra played. Janice was his favorite dance partner; her husband told him “to wear her out!” and he probably did. Oftentimes, they were the only people dancing alongside the bandshell, and everyone enjoyed watching them.
Donations can be made to the Naples Concert Band Band at www.NaplesConcertBand.org or by mailing a check to PO Box 31, Naples, FL 34106.