Richard Joseph "Dick" “Digger” Kindig

Richard Joseph Kindig, died at 7:45 PM Thursday, Dec. 25, 1986, in St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized for two days. Born and reared in South Bend, he ran track and played football at South Bend Central High School. He attended St. Joseph College in 1941, where he earned letters in football, track and boxing his freshman year.

At the time of his death, Mr. Kindig, known to friends and associates as "Dick" or "Digger", was athletic ticket manager for Purdue University. He had served in that position since 1971. He began working in the ticket office in 1950 as an assistant ticket manager to "Pop" Doan and then to his uncle, Joe Dienhart.

As a World War II Army Air Corps gunner, Mr. Kindig parachuted into Germany and was missing in action for six months, resulting in a one-half year fight with the underground in France and Belgium. For his heroics, he was awarded membership in the exclusive Air Force Evadee and Escapee Society.

Following the war, he resumed his education at Purdue in March 1946. He contracted polio in 1948, losing the use of his legs. He continued efforts toward a degree and graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1950 and began work with Doan shortly after.

He married Violet Hamon on August 17, 1946, in Mt. Clemens, MI; she survives. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and American Legion Post 11.

Also surviving are a son, Richard J. "Skip" Kindig, Jr. of West Lafayette; three daughters, Sarah (Mrs. Gary W.) Potts of Carmel, Kathleen Pearl (Mrs. James E.) Brewer and Laurie Kindig, both of West Lafayette; his mother, Gertrude (Mrs. James E.) Kindig of Lafayette; a sister, Pat (Mrs. Stuart) Ross of Red Wing, MN; a brother, John J. Kindig of Dallas, TX; and three grandchildren. Funeral mass Dec. 29, St. Boniface Catholic Church, Father Ray Chapps officiating; internment St. Boniface Cemetery.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier, Sat 12/27/1986

07/25/2022 EJS