Richard Fredrick LeValley

Richard Fredrick LeValley, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, July 15, 2013 at Caretel Inns in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 19 at 1st Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., Saint Joseph, with Rev. David Colp officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, July 18 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd, Saint Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or 1st Church of God. Those wishing to sign Richard’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Richard was born February 19, 1929, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Fred and Hilda (Steinke) LeValley. Richard served in the Korean War from October 1950 until October 1952. He was a Sgt. First Class Squad Leader. In 1955, he married Constance Smith and she preceded him in death on February 7, 1988. At age 16, he went to work for Orson Coe at Coe Auto Sales in Ionia, Michigan and was there for 21 years. In 1966, he was made General Manager for Orson E. Coe Pontiac, GMC in Grand Rapids. In 1975, he moved to Benton Harbor and became a partner with Bill Klum in Klum Olds Cadillac. He bought the business from Bill Klum in 1980 and the dealership was then renamed LeValley Oldsmobile Cadillac GMC. He married Jean Lane Mitchell on December 8, 1996 in Benton Harbor. He was a member of The First Church of God in St. Joseph, a lifetime member of the Elks for 53 years, a member of the Rotary, Quanis Club in Ionia, Berrien Hills for 28 years, Cascade & Ionia Country Club and the Berrien County Sportsmans Club. He was an avid sportsman and fisherman. Richard is survived by his wife Jean LeValley; son Dudley (Julie) LeValley of St. Joseph; daughter Linda (John) West of Whitewater, Wisconsin; three step-children – Julie Mitchell, Jenna (Jim) Everett and Joseph (Joni) Mitchell of Central City, Oregon; two grandchildren Bradley and Jordan LeValley; seven step-grandchildren – Grant and Logan Klug, Ryan, Austin and Lane Everett, Jace and Joezie Mitchell; sister Shirley Fay of Lansing, Michigan; and three nephews Fred, Steve and Jeff Fay. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Constance LeValley.