KLINGLER, Richard Dee

Richard Dee Klingler, 72, of Clearwater Florida passed away on February 9, 2022. Born in Lima, Ohio.
He attended East Bay High School in the graduating class of 1968. Following high school, he enlisted in the
U.S. Army in August of 1968. Richard fought in the Vietnam war in the 101st Airborne Paratrooper Pathfinder
division. During Richard’s service he was awarded a Bronze Star, an Air Medal for Valor and Honorably
discharged as a Sergeant in April 1971. Upon his return Richard attended the University of Florida in
Gainesville, FL receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree specializing in Advertising and Public Relations. With
his Degree, Richard pursued a career in Advertising and Commercial Real Estate in both Colorado and Florida.
Richard was a well-known Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce in Rifle Colorado where he chose
to raise his son William. In Colorado, Richard then transitioned his career into Commercial Real Estate which
moved him and his business to Clearwater, Florida.

Richard was a born leader with a larger than life personality, which touched the lives of many across
North America. He was always motivated and destined to be an entrepreneur. Richard was a devoted Florida
Gators fan, GO GATORS! Fishing and hunting were among his most coveted hobbies while enjoying cycling in
his later years this sparked his interest in training for marathons regularly. In 2018 on the 50th year
anniversary of their enlistment into the US Army, Richard and his lifelong friend David McCatty cycled a self inspired 50-mile bicycle marathon to pay tribute to their enlistment.

Richard Dee Klingler is predeceased by his grandparents, Glenn Adrian Marshall and Margaret Louise
Marshall; mother, Marcia Louise Howell and father, Dee Klingler; brothers, William Glenn Klingler and James
Marshall Klingler. He is survived by his sister, Kandace Louise Klingler and niece, Jade Yaqian Klingler; brother,
Thomas Ardian Spence and nephew, Thomas Glenn Spence, nieces, Kathy Louise Spence and Latiesha Mae
Keen; brother, Timothy Samuel Spence and nephew, Timothy James Spence; nephew, Matthew James
Klingler; nieces, Jacqueline Rose Klingler and Anna-Jane Klingler, nephew, Zachary Elijah Klingler; son, William
KoDee Klingler and daughter-in-law, Monika Marie Klingler