Tributes

Richard Ruffner Mandt, Sr., 89, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Friday, September 1, 2017 at Summit Place Assisted Living Center. He was born on January 4, 1928 in Charleston, W.V. to the late William Frederick Mandt and Lady Ruffner Stout Mandt. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Jeanne Marie Auer Mandt, his son, John Fredrick Mandt, and his brother, Lt. Col. William Frederick Mandt. Richard served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force. He was an electrical engineer for IBM and retired with 35 years of service. While working for the company he invented a sun fall monitor that tracked and recorded solar energy. This innovation and additional work he did in the area of energy and power conservation was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Richard was a proud alumni and class agent for Virginia Military Institute (VMI – Class 50A). While a cadet at the Institute, he wrote the lyrics for the "VMI Tribute" fight song. Richard was a long-time member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mooresville where he sang in the choir. Richard also had a passion for march music. He loved bass fishing and was a life-long member of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.). Most importantly, Richard was a loving and supportive husband, father, and friend. He frequently wrote poetry to share his love, faith, and support for everyone around him. Richard is survived by his sons, Richard "Rich" Ruffner Mandt, Jr. and David William Mandt; daughter-in-law, Patricia Mandt Prather; sons-in-law, Jay Robert Greenwell and Osborn Clyde Prather, III; and grandchildren, Jennifer Allene Mandt Merritt, David Ruffner Mandt, Sarah Margaret Mandt, and Lillian Kate Prather. Services will be held on Thursday, September 7 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Dave Keck officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be one hour prior to the service from 1:30–2:30 p.m. in the Narthex of the Church. Burial will follow in Glenwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 454 Fieldstone Rd., Mooresville, N.C. 28115 (www.saintmarkslutheran.com) or Virginia Military Institute, 319 Letcher Ave., Lexington, VA 24450 (http://www.vmi.edu). Cavin-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Richard Mandt. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

Tributes

Richard Ruffner Mandt

January 4, 1928 - September 1, 2017