Richard Mansfield Booze
Hammond

Richard Mansfield Booze, age 80, of Hammond entered into the gates of heaven on Wednesday, September 4, 2013.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Rowena Booze, nee Neal;
5 children: Dr. ReGena Booze of El Monte, CA,
Deborah (Chaz) Byrd of Crofton, MD, Dell Dumas of Hammond, Adam (Aimee) Bates of Justice, IL and Crystal (Shawnree) Johnson of Gary, IN;
4 Grandchildren: Tracey Lankford, Evan (Juanita) Lankford, and Whitney Dumas:  
4 great grandchildren: Daniel, Mimi, Evan, Jr., and Ayden;
2 brothers: Henderson (Louise) Booze of Washington, DC and Edward A. (Koyi) Williams of Chicago, IL;
many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Preceded in death by his parents Fred and Leola Booze;
sisters: Mayme Cleveland and Doris “Dottie” Blackman;
brothers: Fred Booze, Jr. and Eugene Booze.
A Committal Service will be held on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. directly at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.
Richard was born on October 15, 1932 in Mound Bayou, MS and moved to the Chicago area over 50 years ago. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had enlisted during the Korean War as an underage veteran. Richard was a member Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for 59 years who as a young member co-designed their Sweetheart pin.
After earning his Master’s Degree, he devoted his life to youth outreach - working with Chicago street gangs as Director of Hull House. In 1998 he became President of Richard M. Booze & Associates, a consultant firm focusing on social services program design and training.
Richard enjoyed photography; spending time with his “heart with two little legs”, Whitney; playing practical jokes on family and friends, and sharing his vast knowledge of trivia.
Richard was very diverse in his interests; he enjoyed gardening; eating good food; reading National Geographic and Popular Science magazines; watching the Discovery channel, listening to classical music and was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.
Richard was a kind, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend who will be dearly missed. For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219) 844-1600.

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