Richard David Patchell

Born on June 23, 1958 in Wilmington, Delaware
Passed on July 6, 2026 in Palm Bay, Florida

On a warm, sunny day in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 23, 1958, Dick and Betty Patchell welcomed a quiet but loving little boy named Richard Patchell. The name “Richard” would later only be used by doctors, or if he was in trouble; to everyone else, he was Rick, Ricky, Dad, Uncle Rick, Papa Rick, or a true friend.

Everyone celebrated when Rick graduated from Delcastle Technical High School, but his dad wasn’t about to let him sit around the house. After graduation, his father handed him an application to work for Chrysler. For the next thirty years, Rick dedicated himself to building vehicles, ultimately retiring in 2007 as a skilled line mechanic. After 2 years, Rick decided to go back to work, so he took a job as a dump truck driver for Tat Trucking. For the next eight years, he cruised the streets of Delaware, running his truck from project to project.

In the fall of 1999, Rick decided to go out on a Friday night – an evening that would change his life forever. At the restaurant, he spotted a pretty girl named Penny. Surprising everyone who knew his quiet nature, Rick walked right over to her, and they ended up enjoying dinner together. Two weeks later, Penny went back to that same restaurant, and you guessed it -Rick was there. That second meeting kickstarted their beautiful relationship. It certainly didn’t hurt that Penny had a garage at her home and was more than willing to let his “baby” (his motorcycle) stay there.

Rick loved to surprise Penny, and they soon began talking about their future. One day, Rick threw Penny a total curveball and left her speechless by asking her to marry him. He was completely committed to bringing both of their families together; his daughter, Allison Cochran-Patchell and her son, Dominic Cataldi. Rick and Penny vowed to raise their children together as one family. Because of his love to travel and see the United States they chose a destination wedding. On Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006, in front of three turtles off the beaches of Hawaii, Rick and Penny committed to walk beside each other through good times and bad, in sickness and in health. From that day forward, the Patchell adventures began, taking them from Las Vegas to Cozumel, Alaska, and beyond. If you ever wanted to know about the best local Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, you didn’t need Google – you just asked Rick.

Eventually, the Patchell team got an itch for something new. Since Rick loved bright colors, moving to the Sunshine State made perfect sense. In 2015, they packed up a U-Haul and moved to Palm Bay, Florida. The home they chose had a garage for Rick’s Harley, and even though the beach was only a few miles away, he successfully convinced Penny that they absolutely needed a pool, too.

As they settled into Florida they began exploring local restaurants, they also noticed a church that offered a free meal on Wednesday nights. So, they decided to check it out, and they never left. Penny began volunteering in the office, and as everyone knows, wherever Penny went, Rick was sure to follow. Rick quickly jumped into serving around the church stacking chairs, painting walls, fixing old doors, and repairing the food pantry van.

Rick also began having deep conversations about his spiritual journey with the pastor and others he respected. Though he attended multiple Bible studies and would often humbly say, “I feel inadequate to say something,” he soon found his voice. Rick realized he possessed a plethora of real-life experience and his deep humility inspired others to grow closer to God. Because of his love for the beach on a cloudy Sunday afternoon on September 15, 2019, Rick was joyfully baptized in front of his church family at Paradise Beach.

Shortly after Penny accepted a full-time position as a preschool teacher, Rick joined the church staff as a valued member of the Facilities team. On Saturday mornings or after services on Sundays, you could always find the two of them working together in Penny’s classroom. Whenever the preschoolers lined up for the playground or walked down the hallway, they eagerly waited for “Papa Rick” to pass by, as every single kid expected a high-five from him.

On Sunday mornings before church, you could spot Rick sitting on his high-top chair with his head bowed, faithfully praying for “us.” For you, me, and everyone else who came to his mind. He was always willing to help, but his church family also loved giving him a hard time because he was so quiet until, suddenly, you would hear Penny’s special ringtone blaring from his phone and know Rick was in the building. He cared deeply about people and wanted God’s house to look its best. He personally made sure the “dip tank” (the baptistry) was always ready to go, and that the “chow hall” (the church café) was clean and welcoming. We all knew that if we could only call one person for help, Rick Patchell was the one we would choose.

In March, Rick started complaining about his throat and some unusual bumps. As the test results came back, the word cancer was something none of us wanted to hear. Through it all, all he wanted was Penny by his side. Due to an unfortunate accident, Penny was unable to work at the time, which became a hidden blessing. For two and a half months, they were inseparable, going to appointments, watching their favorite shows, and talking deeply about life.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us, “For everything there is a season.” Rick Patchell’s physical life came to an end on July 6, 2026, but his incredible legacy lives on through everyone he touched during his 68 years.

He is survived by his beautiful bride, whom he always affectionately called “Faye”; his daughter, Allison Cochran-Patchell; his son, Dominic Cataldi; and his grandson, Andrew Cataldi. He is also survived by his sister, Vicki Weaver; his niece, Kelle Frassico, and her two boys, Bentley and Talon; along with a large, loving extended family and countless friends who loved him dearly.

Funeral services will be held on July 15th, 2026 at Daniel Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N Broad St, Middletown Delaware 19709. Viewing and visitation starting at 10am with a service to begin at 11am followed by a burial committal at Forest Cemetery.