Obituary of Richard K. Hanifan

Richard K. Hanifan Richard K. Hanifan, 75, of Tempe, AZ, died May 10,2016, in Mesa, AZ. Richard was born on January 1, 1951, in Clarksburg, WV, graduated from Washington Irving High School in the class of 1959, and from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1968. He held the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. After returning to the United States, Richard settled in Arizona with a long and successful career as a fiscal officer for the city of Phoenix. Richard loved life outdoors. Growing up in the hills of central West Virginia, Richard enjoyed hiking and hunting in the Appalachians. In Arizona he discovered the pleasure of hiking the hills and canyons of the Superstitions. After he retired Richard spent most of the year at his desert home in Tempe but returned to his Upshur County cabin in the woods for the summer and autumn months. More recently when physical limitations prevented him from hiking the trails, he kept a golf cart in West Virginia and a scooter in Arizona so that he could still travel the roadways on his own. Richard loved animals but in later years could not manage a pet, so he made sure there was a bowl of food at the backdoor of both of his homes so neighborhood cats could stop by to visit while he was sitting outside. Richard is the son of Dr. Richard K. Hanifan and Thelma Keim Hanifan of Clarksburg, WV, who preceded him in death along with his sister Suzanne Keim Hanifan. Richard is survived by his aunt Betty Kay McClellan; very special cousins Debra M Kegley, Tyler Kegley and Paige Kegley of Auburndale, FL; Laura M. Hucks and husband Kenneth Hucks, Jenna Hucks, and Evan Hucks of Myrtle Beach, SC; and Susan Neal of Charlotte, NC. Friends will be received Sunday, May 15, 2016 from 5 until 8PM and 10 until 11AM Monday at Poling St. Clair Funeral Home in Buckhannon, WV. A funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Steve Meadows at 11 AM Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Buckhannon Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the American Lung Association online at www.lung.org. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.