Obituary: Richard Leon Catchapaw

December 4, 1938 – June 26, 2025

July 22, 2025

Richard Leon Catchapaw, 1938-2025

Richard L. Catchapaw, Sr., 86, passed away at his home in Duxbury on June 26, 2025. Born in Bolton, Vermont, on December 4, 1938, he was the son of Harley and Dorothy Catchapaw. He married his beloved wife, Catherine S. Catchapaw, on June 20, 1959, in Waterbury Center. She predeceased him on July 5, 2017.

Richard was a 1957 graduate of Waterbury High School and a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1966. He served on the Quogue Fire Department in New York, was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 8284 in Castleton, Vermont, and the American Legion Post 59 in Waterbury, Vermont. Richard retired from Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 1998 following a 32-year career as a service technician.

Richard was a man of great talent. After he retired, he and his wife, Cathy, traveled to 49 states. Travelling was one of his favorite things to do, especially on their trike that he built himself from the ground up. 

He spent his days feeding and watching birds fly to his feeders, listening to books on tape, going on shopping trips with his son-in-law, James Touchette Sr., “Big Jim,” who was his primary caretaker for the last 15 years. 

He loved wandering down the road to Donny Byrd and Mark Lanphear’s garages as well as the welding shop of Duxbury and going for Sunday pedicures followed by lunch with his daughter, Sarah. Richard was a Boston Red Sox and Jeff Gordon NASCAR fan. 

As his eyes started to fail him, Richard began spending a lot of his time at home on the hill, tinkering in his garage and puttering around on his tractor. Richard was known for being headstrong, but he always had a soft spot for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had a unique sense of humor that was cherished by all who spent time with him.

Richard is loved and mourned by his children, Richard L. Catchapaw Jr., and wife Kim of Vergennes, Robert L. Catchapaw and wife Barbara of Moretown, and Sarah L. Touchette and husband Jim of Waterbury Center, as well as eight grandchildren and six great-granddaughters, his sister Elizabeth Weaver of Plattsburgh, Ohio, and many extended family.

He was predeceased by his parents Harley and Dorothy Catchapaw, his brother, Harley Catchapaw Jr., sister Ruth Wayne, and his long-time best friend who he considered a brother, Fred Fleury Sr.

A graveside service was to be held to lay both Richard and Catherine to rest at the Maple Street Cemetery, in Waterbury Center on July 12, with a reception following at the American Legion in Waterbury.

“…smartest man I ever met.” - Jay Touchette, grandson