Richard “Dick” Towle, 90, of Doylestown, Pa., passed away on Aug. 16, 2023. Born on Nov. 17, 1932, in Raritan, N.J., Richard was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Richard was the finest example of the kind of person we could all only hope to be. He was incredibly selfless, loving, and genuine and that was shown daily. His caring, responsible, gentle and honest nature shone through the moment you met him. If things got rough, he was always there with a helping hand. He made the sun shine through even the darkest days with his light hearted antics and passion for making each of us see how special we are. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He never stopped working, even after retirement. “Poppi” was a train that couldn’t be stopped, and it was admired greatly.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Gay Cressman Towle, and his children, Jennifer Ann, Maribeth, Richard Christopher (Chip), and Anthony Richards. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Dallas Richard Errico-Towle, Tyler Towle, Hana Corrinne, Calem, and Drew Regenhard. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace Arthur Towle and Elizabeth (Mary) Lukacs Towle, his sister Elizabeth (Betty) Towle Tettemer, and his daughter, Debra Gay Towle.
He graduated from New Hope-Solebury Jr/Sr High School in the Class of 1950.
Throughout his career, Dick had a diverse range of experiences. He began as a lace weaver for his grandfather and father, Percy and Horace Towle, at Towle Laceworks. He then transitioned to becoming a foreign car specialist, working in various shops in Lambertville and New Hope before settling at Heath’s Auto Shop, where he dedicated many years until his retirement in 2012. Additionally, he bartended at multiple venues in New Hope and Lambertville, leaving a lasting impact on the thousands of people he met.
Dick attended St. Martin’s Church in New Hope, as well as Phillip’s Mill Chapel in Solebury.
He built boats with his father, but his true love was for racing. He started out with cars, but moved on to racing hydroplane boats. He was written up as a hero when he gave up first place in his final race to save another racers life. He also loved sports and kids, coaching Little League baseball for the New Hope Astros, helping them to become Little League champs. As his kids grew, he moved up with them to take over the Tigers.
A Celebration of Richard’s Life will be held at Fran’s Pub in New Hope, Pa., on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, from 3-6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any donations in Richard’s name be made to the Delaware Valley Powerboat Association.
Richard Towle’s presence in our lives will forever be cherished, and his memory will continue to inspire us all. He will be remembered as a devoted family man, a skilled professional, a compassionate friend, and a pillar of strength in the community. May he rest in peace.
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