After a near superhuman battle with cancer, Richard Connell LeVan died on January 17 th , 2024 in Huntsville, Alabama at the age of 62.

Born on September 22, 1961 in Sanborn, New York, Richard was the youngest child of Willis and Margaret LeVan. Richard and his beloved sister Linda grew up immersed in the life of their father's local hardware store, a pillar in the Sanborn community. He was lucky to maintain close ties to his incredible childhood friends throughout his life, but even luckier to have grown up just down the street from his best friend and high school sweetheart, Vicki Townsend. They wasted little time starting their larger-than-life adventures together, marrying right after graduation on June 28 th, 1980, and moving across the country to begin Richard's career in the Army. His military service took the young couple from Seattle to Germany, allowing them to tour Europe extensively as they gathered more treasured friendships and albums full of memories along the way. In 1986, they finally put down
roots in Huntsville, AL, where they raised their two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa.

Family was Richard's heart and soul, and his proud role as the quintessential patriarch guided every decision. After retiring from the Army, he served in the Navy Reserves. For nearly a decade, he balanced this with a full-time career, college courses to obtain his degree in Electrical Engineering,
and construction jobs on the weekends to provide for his family. Despite such an exhausting demonstration of work-ethic, sacrifice, and love, he never complained, and he never missed a single ball practice, band performance, or family dinner.

After graduating from UAH, his family was proud to watch him advance his career as a civil servant at Redstone Arsenal. He was blessed to love a job that added new countries to his impressive list of travel, but the deep friendships made there were his favorite part. It was, in fact, a considerable
loss to him when his cancer diagnosis forced an early retirement. Though this strong and courageous man served in two branches of the military, he never served during wartime. But in 2019, he became a fierce warrior with the diagnosis of a rare form of Appendix cancer. With his iron-willed partner by his side, he traveled to MD Anderson countless times over the next 4 years and endured so much to fight his illness. Richard's love for his family
was again displayed through an unwavering determination to give as much of his time and energy as possible to his precious wife, daughters, and grandchildren. In turn, they worked to pack his remaining years full of new memories, trips, and experiences together. Regardless of his pain and
discomfort, "Papa" never missed an opportunity to camp, travel, fish on his boat, or share his avid Buffalo Bills and Auburn fandoms with friends and family. While cancer tragically cut short the beautiful life of a gentle, loving, funny, intelligent, and truly decent man, Richard's deepest wish for
his diagnosis was that it would be used to help others and shine a light on his steadfast faith in the Lord.

Richard C. LeVan was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Margaret LeVan.

He leaves behind his cherished legacy- devoted wife Vicki LeVan, daughters Jennifer LeVan Chartier (Scott) and Melissa LeVan Brock (Drew), and five grandchildren, Olivia Chartier, Audrey Chartier, Owen Chartier, Emma Brock, and Evan Brock, along with a rich tapestry of extended family and friends that stretches across the country.

Interment will be at Hayden Cemetery in New Hope, AL on January 24th, 2024.