It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear parents Richard Edward Flutie and Joan Marie (Rhoades) Flutie.
Richard Edward Flutie, 76 years old, passed away November 18, 2015 at 8:45 am. Born July 29, 1939, Richard, known by family and friends as "Dick," was the son of Edward Elias and Theda Jacobs Flutie, who passed at his birth. He was raised by Ruth and Raymond Gabler of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, attending Forest Park High School where he was a star on the golf team, and eventually moved to Natick, Massachusetts. After graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1999, Dick moved to Melbourne, Florida, working at Harris Semiconductor and Digital Equip. Corporation, and then spending his final years in the Brevard County area.
Dick was a loving husband and father. Words could never describe how much his wife and family meant to him, and how proud he was. He loved photography, classic western movies, golf, and the Lone Ranger. He was a professional musician and had his own "Richard Flutie and his Orchestra" at various times during his lifetime. Dick started the Natick Pop Warner program back in the day which has
influenced thousands of children since. He coached all of his children in sports, not to mention hundreds of others in Natick, Massachusetts and Melbourne, Florida. Dick was an avid dog lover and considered his animals to be his babies, especially his "Sheba girl," his closest four-legged friend.
Joan Marie (Rhoades) Flutie, 73 years old, was taken from us very unexpectedly on November 18th, 2015 at 9:15 am, almost immediately after the passing of her husband. She was born on March 1, 1942 to Marie T. (Gribbin) and William W. Rhoades of Baltimore, Maryland. She leaves one sister, Diane (Rhoades) Harney and brother in law, John Harney. Dick, Joan, John and Diane were constant companions and Joan and Diane were truly best friends.
Joan attended All Saints Catholic School from first grade through eighth and then went on to Seton High School, both in Baltimore, Maryland. Joan and Dick Flutie met in high school and have been together ever since. You never saw one without the other. They enjoyed playing bridge with Joan's sister and brother-in-law, Diane and John Harney, and especially enjoyed watching their children's athletic events. In their later years, they enjoyed watching the Melbourne Beach Orioles, where both Bill and Doug played, and the team members loved them. They were "season ticket holders" and rarely missed a game. They lived in Brevard County from 1967 to 1976 and returned from 1999 to 2015. From 1976 to 1999, they lived in Natick, Massachusetts where Joan worked at Roche Bros. for many years.
Joan was a shining light and friend to all, an extremely loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and caretaker for Dick in his later years. She was an athlete and loved golf, tennis, swimming, the beach, and all sports. Mostly she enjoyed taking care of her family. They were her pride and joy, along with taking care of her home, yard and gardens to the extreme.
Dick and Joan celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in October. They are survived by their children, Denise Flutie-Morgan and husband Scott, William Flutie and wife Gwen, Douglas Flutie and wife Laurie, and Darren Flutie and wife Terri; as well as their grandchildren, Jennifer Flutie, Brooke Flutie-Mulcahy, Billy Flutie, Brittany Alberghini, Brett Flutie, Alexa Flutie-Sumner, Dougie Flutie, Jr., Taylor Flutie, and Troy Flutie; great-grandchildren, Capri, Bria and Decker Mulcahy; dear daughter-in-law, Donna Donovan-Flutie; Dick's sister, Alinda Flutie; cousin Ronald Plotka; childhood friend, Louis Bates; and special family friend, Luann Darras Jarvie, whom Dick and Joan thought of as their daughter, as well as several other cousins and relatives too numerous to mention.
Dick and Joan were together for 60 years in this life, passed within minutes of each other, and will spend their eternity together.
Mom and dad, we love you! You left us way too soon. You were truly meant to be together for eternity and you will be remembered as loving parents who always put your children before yourselves. You will forever be in our hearts and your legacy lives on through all of us.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family on Friday, November 27th from 4:00 to 7:00 Pm in the Chapel of the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, at Natick Common.