Saugerties – Richard Valk, Sr. died Tuesday November 14, 2017 at home. He was 90 years old.

Born October 17, 1927 in Saugerties, he was the son of Calvin and Ella Wolven Valk. On September 15, 1951 he married the former Doris Plue who pre-deceased him on January 12, 2007 after more than 50 years of marriage.

Following his service in the US Army during WWII, he raced stock cars throughout the Hudson Valley and Long Island from 1947 until 1952. A self employed plumber, he was also a member of the Saxton Fire Company where he was a former commissioner of the Saxton Fire District and served as Fire Chief for 33 years. Dick was an avid camper and tried to visit Maine at least twice a year where he enjoyed visiting local light houses, particularly the Cape Neddick Lighthouse on Nubble Island.

Survivors include seven children, Brenda Doyle, Richard Valk, Jr. and his wife Betty, Cindy Keator and her husband Rich, Terry Valk, John Valk, James Valk and his wife Cathy, and Tim Valk and his wife Tonya; two sisters-in-law Jean Valk and Lorraine Valk; 26 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was pre-deceased by his son-in-law, Joe Doyle; two grandsons, Richard Valk III and TJ Valk; and his great-grandson Justin MacDonald; and by all his siblings, Calvin, George, Harry, Donald, Doris Bogardus and Nina Clancy.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Monday, November 20, 2017 at Buono Funeral Service, Inc., Saugerties, NY. Rev. James Aley will officiate. Interment with full military honors will follow immediately in Mount Marion Cemetery. Friends may call Saturday 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM and Sunday 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Buono Funeral Service, Inc. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made in Dick's memory to Support Our Service People (SOS) in Saugerties.