Richard Birkenhead

Richard Birkenhead, 36, of Wilkes-Barre passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA. He was born in Kingston, PA on April 19, 1980, the son of John Birkenhead and Christine (Fisher) Birkenhead of Wilkes-Barre.

Richard was a 1998 graduate of Meyer’s High School, where he gained a true passion for sports, lettering in both football and soccer. He also graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY in 2002. While attending Canisius College he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Medicine. Also during his time at Canisius, Richard gained the nickname, “Punter”, as an active punter on the football team there.   

Richard was most recently employed by Aerus and took great pride in the rapid growth and success he had there. He was a member of the Wyoming Valley Presbyterian Church. He was also very kind-hearted in nature, becoming involved in such organizations as Life Leadership and the local Wyoming Masonic Lodge. His involvement in the People to People program in high school developed a knack for traveling worldwide, most recently visiting Dublin, Ireland.

Richard’s enthusiasm for sports continued throughout his life as well. His favorite sports teams included the New York Mets, New York Giants, and Liverpool Soccer. Even greater than his love of sports, was his love of spending time with his family, especially his three nephews, Tyler, Zachary, and Bradley. Richard continued his gracious manner, even after life, as a donor to the Gift of Life.  

He was preceded in death by; grandparents, Ronald and Laura Birkenhead, James M. and Helen Fisher; uncle, James A. Fisher; cousin, Angela Daniels.

In addition to his parents, left to cherish his memory are; his sister, Victoria, and her husband Paul Smith of West Wyoming; nephews, Tyler Smith, Zachary Smith, and Bradley Smith; aunts, Judy Birkenhead, MD, Michaelle Stanek, MT, Kathleen Daniels, ID and Marcella Miller, PA; godparents, Charles Flannery and Darlene Phillips; several cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 24, at 2:00 P.M. at Kniffen O’Malley Leffler Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 465 S. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre 18701. Pastor Harold Armstrong of Wyoming Valley Presbyterian Church and Pastor Adam McGahee of Moving River Ministries Church will be officiating.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.  

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