Richard Howard “Dick” Carns, 76, of Culpeper, Va., died after two years of declining health on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Va.
Family and friends will be received from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday at the chapel of Strange & Weaver Funeral Home, with the burial immediately following at Grandview Cemetery, Morrisdale.
Mr. Carns was born in Johnstown on Nov. 25, 1939. He graduated from the Clearfield High School in 1957. Mr. Carns continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University in 1964.
He was married to Arlene Walk Carns on Oct. 8, 1960. They were married for 55 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his one child, Jeffrey A. Carns and his wife, Kelly; his three grandchildren, Noah, Luke and Jenny; and his sister, Patricia L Norris (Ron) of Altoona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph W. Carns and Wyoma Caroline Myers Carns of Clearfield.
For 37 years, Mr. Carns worked as a mechanical engineer at several companies, including Babcock & Wilcox in Barberton, Ohio; J&L Steel/Lykes Resources in Pittsburgh; Drakenfeld in Washington; and the Department of Defense (U.S. Navy) in Indian Head, Md.
Two of his greatest career achievements included being the co-designer and creator of the Wise Coal/Red River Coal Plant in Norton, Va., and designing a missile exhaust fuel scrubber for the U.S. Navy.
He retired in 2001. He enjoyed reading, driving his Corvettes and watching his beloved Penn State and Steeler football and Penguins hockey.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at the University of Virginia Hospital who took great care of Mr. Carns.
