Richard Keith Converse

Richard Keith Converse died at the age of 87, on February 15, 2024 at 2:00am. He was a resident of Four Seasons on Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill Township. Richard was born in Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio on August 4, 1936, to the late Paul Mark and Dorothy Williams Converse. Richard was a 1954 graduate of West High School, Columbus, OH, Olivet Nazarene University of Bourbonnais, IL in 1960 and Franklin University in 1968 of Columbus, Ohio. He has worked at Anchor Glass Container Corporation in Ohio and Tampa, FL for 25 years, retiring in 1994. His last five years of employment was as Controller for Kaf-Tech, Inc, located in Largo, FL.

He attended various Nazarene Churches in Ohio, Florida and Charlotte, NC. He enjoyed traveling, being with friends and family and playing Bocce. His sports interests centered on the Ohio State football and basketball teams where ever he has lived.

In 2006 he founded and led the Four Seasons Genealogy Group for 9 years. He was a member of various Genealogy and Historical Societies in Florida and Ohio. He traced his Converse line back to England, where his ninth great-grandfather Deacon Edward Converse was born, Richards great-grandfather was with the Massachusetts Bay Colony settling in Charlestown, MA in 1630 he and six men founded Woburn, MA where Edward Converse was a deacon of the church and selectman in Charlestown and Woburn. Richard has continued researching his family roots until his passing.

He sponsored three Ohio Historical Markers and three veteran memorial grave markers in OH and co-sponsored a South Carolina Historical Marker for the Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill.

Surviving are his wife, Betty J, Hayes Converse, whom he married on Aug. 15, 1959 in Columbus, OH. They had four children, Lynda Lee Converse Bonnette and retired U.S Navy Captain Chaplain Richard Bonnette of Pensacola, FL, Thomas Converse and Penny (granddaughter Tawney Converse) of Evansville, IN, William and Tonia Converse (grandson Logan) of Ashland, OH, Brian and Marilyn Converse (Grandchildren Tanner Converse and Mackenzie Converse) of Marietta, GA, a sister Mary Lou Converse Wall of Clearwater, FL, and two brothers Paul Edward Converse of Tinley Park, IL and Paul Mark Converse, Jr. of Kernersville, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy May Williams Converse, and Paul Mark Converse, Sr., by a brother Donald Mark Converse, and a grandson Colin Richard Converse.

A memorial service to celebrate Richards life will be held on March 2, 2024 at Trinity Nazarene Church, 12610 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC. Pastor Mike Barefield will be presiding over the service. Family Visitation will be at 1:00 and the service follows at 2:00pm.

The family wishes no flowers. Memorial donation may be made to Trinity Nazarene Church or Hospice of Fort Mill (VIA Health Partners ) 1075 Red Ventured Drive, Suite 150, Fort Mill, SC 29707, www.viahp.org.