Mr. Richard John “Dicky” LaPlante passed away Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina Beach. He was born Sept. 28, 1945, in Dighton, Mass.
Richard was a 1963 graduate of Coyle High School in Taunton, Mass., and attended evening classes at Stonehill College in Stoughton, Mass. He served with the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1966 as an aviation electrician with the Reconnaissance Heavy Attack Squadrons.
He married his high school sweetheart in 1966 upon his discharge from active service.
He was employed by Raytheon prior to becoming a union carpenter. He had his own contracting business until 1980, when he became a firefighter with the Taunton Fire Department, where he served his city with pride and dedication until his retirement in 2004.
Richard enjoyed carpentry, puttering in his yard and just watching the grass grow. He enjoyed being “Mr. Fix-it.” He enjoyed being a dad and loved his sons unconditionally, adored his grandchildren, and looked forward to spending time with them.
He was a member of American Legion Post 54 in Fernandina Beach. He also was involved with Cub Scout Pack 6 in Taunton and Boy Scout Troop 45 in Dighton when his sons were growing up.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandra J. (daCosta) LaPlante; his two sons, Jayson LaPlante and his wife, Sondra (Clemmey) LaPlante, and their children, Shawna, Jake and Ryan LaPlante of Taunton, and his son Michael LaPlante of Newton, Mass.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Armand and Lillian (Bilodeau) LaPlante.
He is also survived by a sister, Constance Jenney and her husband, Robert, of Lancaster, Mass.; a brother, George LaPlante and his wife, Abby, of Ocala; two nieces, Donna (LaPlante) Burch and Cheryl (Jenney) McCarthy; and three nephews, Brian Jenney, Stephen LaPlante and David LaPlante. Richard also leaves behind six godchildren, who were all very special to him.
He was predeceased by his lifelong friend, Edward Riendeau, and leaves behind his best friend, Ted Hamlin.
He also leaves behind many who considered him a good friend and a real gentleman.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission, 86000 St. Francis Way, Yulee (off A1A).
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church on Spring Street in North Dighton, Mass., with interment at Cedar Knoll Cemetery in East Taunton, Mass., at a later date in January.
Neptune Society is in charge of his arrangements.
Neptune Society, Jacksonville