Richard Dennis ‘Ric’ Avers

   After a 17 year battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Ric Avers died on July 2, 2008, surrounded by family and loved ones at Bloomington Hospital.

   On August 31, 1949, Ric was born to John and Emma (Miller) Avers in Goshen, Indiana.

At age 18, he moved to Bloomington to attend Indiana University, where he earned degrees in Mathematics and Economics in 1971. As a freshman member of the Marching 100, he participated in the Rose Bowl Parade. Ric’s graduate studies were interrupted by the Vietnam War. Descended from Amish, Mennonites and Baptists, Ric was a conscientious objector, who served his country as a mental health counselor, working with troubled youth on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma. There he learned his electrical trade.

He returned to Bloomington, where he began The Electric Company.

   A self-proclaimed confirmed bachelor, at the age of 33, he met the love of his life, Kathy. They married seven months later. Kathy had many attributes Ric loved dearly, none more so than her culinary skills, particularly pie-baking. He and Kathy had two wonderful daughters, Emily, now age 23 and Katie, age 20. Kathy and Ric shared 26 years of genuine married bliss and many pies of all varieties.

   Ric later founded Avers Electric Company. Combining his electrical skills and aesthetic sense, Ric designed lighting for commercial businesses and homes. He shared his trade with the community by wiring several Habitat for Humanity homes. Avers Electric is now owned and operated by Ric’s longtime associate, Jubal Dike.

   Ric was loved and respected by many. He served his community as an elected board member of the Salt Creek Township Advisory Board, the East Monroe Water Corporation and South Indiana Conference on the Status of Women. He was an early morning regular at the farmers’ market and a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church.

Ric was a quiet and patient man who was always eager to extend a hand and a smile to all he touched. Ric loved his family, his community and pie.

   Ric is survived by brothers Kenneth Avers (Ruth) in Milwaukee and Robert Avers (Pat) in northern California and sister, Elnora Phillips in Goshen, Indiana.

He was preceded in death by his brother John and his parents.

   A celebration of Ric’s life will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 2:00, at the First United Methodist Church.

   His family asks that contributions be made in lieu of flowers to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, the Sycamore Land Trust or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Online condolences can be expressed to the bereaved family.