Eagle

As a family, we lost our best friend, Richard W. Eagle Jr., on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.

Rick was born Nov. 29, 1956, and raised in Swarthmore, Pa. He was a 1974 graduate of Ridley High, and a very proud 1978 graduate of Penn State. Initially, he worked as a probation officer for Delaware County. He later went back to school to become a certified home and school visitor, a job he loved as he could work with kids.

On Feb. 6, 1987, he met his wife, Lynda, at a local restaurant/club. A friend of Lynda’s pulled Rick out to dance with her and the rest was history. They were married one year later on the exact date that they met. At the time, Super Bowls were in January, and Rick felt it was the perfect time for a wedding, between football and March Madness. This will always make Lynda smile.

Rick and Lynda went to Australia for their honeymoon and the joint love for travel continued throughout their marriage. The greatest adventure took place in June 2013, one day after their youngest daughter graduated high school. They embarked on a journey across the country, with the hope of visiting as many national parks as possible within six weeks. With no reservations, except inside Yellowstone, they had the most wonderful journey. Rick’s favorite park was Zion National Park in Utah. Yellowstone was a close second, although all were memorable.

The family went to Alaska in 2023 to see the Northern Lights. This was Rick’s wish. On the very first night, in minus 35 degrees, God put on a majestic display. He was so happy (and so cold).

Rick was an ardent Philadelphia sports fan, even though the family moved to Pittsburgh in 1993. The Eagles Super Bowl win in 2018 was a triumph for him and his daughters. It was always Penn State football on Saturdays and Philly football on Sundays. If they both won, it would be a good week.

There is nothing that Rick loved more than his children, Shawn, Alyson and Kaitlyn. He was their biggest supporter and loyal friend.

From Shawn: It makes me happy to know that everyone who spent time with my dad is keenly aware of what he loved: family, cracking jokes, Penn State football, Philadelphia sports and trying to make any situation fun. He was relentless in his pursuit of making people laugh, even up until his final hours. One of the founding fathers of “dad” jokes, I can hear his greatest hits playing on a loop in my head (and if you knew him, you can too). He loved traditions: family holidays, Penn State tailgates and the Fourth of July parade. He did not need much to be happy, and finding joy in simple things will be how I honor him. His legacy is rooted in family, and we will carry him in our hearts as we remember to show up for our loved ones, listen to more Springsteen and tell more Dad jokes.

From Alyson: We loved going on father-daughter dates together, relaxing in the sun on Lake Erie or the Zelienople pool, searching for beach glass at Kelso Beach and talking over a cup of hot coffee early in the morning. I will forever cherish any time spent with him while on Earth, but I feel substantial joy in sharing stories about my Dad. You will never be forgotten, and I will always tell your story. You will always be in my heart, Papa Bear. I love you to the moon and back, as big as the inside and outside and then some.

From Kaitlyn: In a book my Dad gave me when I was a child title “My Daughter, My Joy,” my Dad wrote, “You are the sunshine of my life.” He made that sentiment abundantly clear throughout every phase of my life, loving and supporting me fiercely without condition. My Dad was the most selfless, loving, goofy, thoughtful man, and I could not possibly be more proud to be his daughter. If my wife, Mia, and I are blessed with children we will raise them to know him and to be like their Papa, who will always be a part of our lives. I will think of him often and always, but especially with every Penn State and Eagles touchdown, when I hear the crashing waves on the shore when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds and with every “Dad joke” I tell that sounds far too familiar. I love you more than I can ever tell you. My Father, my Joy.

Rick’s family includes wife, Lynda Snyder Eagle; son, Shawn Ryan and his wife, Annemarie; daughter, Alyson Nicole; daughter, Kaitlyn Jayne and her wife, Mia Harton. His grandsons, Miles Bruce and Micah William, were a special gift — to them he was and always will be Papa.

Siblings include Robert (Jane) Eagle, Shirlee Zarro and Linda (Mike) Spadaro; cousins, like sisters, Beth Scampton and Carla Clarke. His mother, Betty Lou Yankanich, passed away in 2017.

There were two men in Rick’s life that left a lasting impact and helped him become the wonderful man he was: his uncle, Robert Yurko, and his stepfather, Stephen Yankanich.

EAGLE — The family of Richard W. Eagle Jr., who died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, will be honoring his life privately at a later date, decked out in Nittany Lion and Philadelphia Eagles gear.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to cancer research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. We will be forever grateful to Hillman. hillman.upmc.com/difference/supporting/make-a-gift.

Arrangements have been entrusted to BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, Zelienople.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.