Richard "Dick" Slater

Richard Ned Slater, age 89 of Plymouth, received his wings on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Trail Point Village in South Bend after a full and long life.  His favorite relaxation was fishing.  Dick loved his motorcycles and camping. He had a strong faith in the Lord.

The LaPorte County native was born July 11, 1931 to the late Burdette and Ila Wiemann Slater.  He graduated in 1949 from Westville High School. Dick was in the Naval Reserves and joined the Navy in 1950.  Later he received a medical discharge.  In 1952 he enrolled in Indiana University and attended for a year and married Arla Lee Babcock on July 19, 1952. After leaving the university he bought a truck and went into the trucking business. Next was his partnership with his family in printing and newspapers.  In 1986 Dick and Arla became the sole owners of the Westville Indicator and the Regional News.

Dick was very active in his community service.  He was a member of the American Legion, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Shrine, a deputy police Marshall, Past Patron of the Westville Eastern Stars, Board member and secretary of the Republican Hoosier State Press Association, Chair of the Potawatomi Boy Scout Council, and President of the Westville Park Board.  He was responsible for the state donating the land to Westville for the Prairie Meadow Park.  It was his strong effort along with others that kept the New Durham School Corporation independent.  

Later on in life, Dick married Bette Lou Foltz Goetz January 6, 1989.  After working at the Indicator and selling it, they worked for a Florida RV company selling advertising.  From there, they started their own placemat advertising business, B&D Publications, which they worked locally for years.

Besides his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Slater; sister-in-law, Emma Jo Slater; his step-son Gary Goetz; his granddaughter, Sara Glaub and his niece Pamela Jessop. 

He leaves to honor his memory -his wife Bette, his sister, Susan Wright, his brother-in-law Gene Foltz and his wife Betty - his daughters - Patricia Glaub (Harold), Cynthia Kollar (Barry Byalick), Sandra Thompson (Garry), Annette Eichholz.  And his step-children - William Goetz (Anne), Jacqulyn Barnhorst (Robert) and Susan Dunn (John). Together they have a total of 17 grandchildren - Adam, Derek, Ashley, Samuel, Zachary, Brittany, Reginna, Michelle, Nathan, Carol, John, Evan, Daniel, Andrew, Christopher, Kathryn, Jennifer and a total of 24 great grandchildren. He also leaves a niece, Rebecca Carter along with her son, Brett Carter and great niece, Sarah Jessop. A celebration of life for Richard will be held at a later date.

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