Richard Reinhardt
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Richard (Rick) Reinhardt ’70 of Kingston, Washington, passed away on May 31, 2021, at 72 years old. Rick was born the fourth of five children to Ira and Norma (Hickmott) Reinhardt, and grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he graduated from Benton Harbor High School.
When his family moved to Anderson, Indiana, he attended Anderson University and received his bachelor’s degree in 1970. He began his career with Duo Supply in Anderson, then later joined Pay Less Super Markets where he spent the next 27 years.
In 1999, Rick’s brother Bob invited Rick to Washington State to “try” his hand at carpentry with The Reinhardt Construction Co. to see if he liked the work and the great Northwest. Rick learned the construction business and became the tile setter and wood finisher. He loved the Northwest and never looked back, except to return to Indiana to marry Sharon (Grigsby) Hart in 2001, sell their homes, and move to Kingston, Washington.
Rick retired from Reinhardt Construction in 2010.
Rick enjoyed driving across the country, which he did several times. He and Sharon enjoyed spending time at the cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, traveling to the east coast to see the fall colors of Vermont, and they have traveled to many countries including Russia, Paris, London, Italy, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and to South Africa, which Rick recalled “the trip of a lifetime.”
He was an avid reader, primarily of historical biographies, and from the beginning of their relationship, he and Sharon enjoyed being out in nature, bird watching, and playing Scrabble. Visiting their home, one would always see a Scrabble board on the coffee table, then the game advanced to an iPad, and most recently, they had five games they were playing with each other on their iPhones. Rick was very supportive of Sharon’s love for running, while either on his bike or in the car traveling from Indiana to New York City and back to Seattle, always waiting at the finish line. He seldom missed any of the grandchildren’s sporting events, band concerts, and piano recitals.
Loving the game of baseball, Rick heartedly agreed when Sharon suggested they apply to work with the Seattle Mariners. Both were hired on the same day in 2015 and became part of The Mariner family until the middle of April of this year when Rick fell ill.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Bruce Reinhardt of Ohio. Survivors include his wife, Sharon; son, Peter (Dima) Reinhardt of London; daughter, Alix (Terry Orcutt) of Ohio; stepdaughter, Christy Stoops of Kingston, Washington; stepson, Mike (Julia) Reydell of Poulsbo, Washington; sister, Joanne (Tom) Malbone, Alexandria, Indiana; brother, Robert (Martha) Reinhardt, Kingston Washington, and Linda (Bob) Thompson of Pasadena, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Extended family include Carole (Jerry) Johnson, Butler, Tennessee; and Amy Hart, Iron, Minnesota. Inherited grandchildren include Brittany (Colton) Beardsley, Anderson, Indiana; Donnie (Anastasia) Stoops, Gainsville, Georgia; Kelsey (Matt) Wehr and Christopher Wehr, Minnesota; Julie Johnson, Indianapolis; Greta and Charlie Reydell, Poulsbo, Washington; and three great-grandchildren, Lily, Knox, and Nora, Anderson, Indiana.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.