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William Rich

July 21, 2018
Battle Creek, MI

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William Allen Rich was "Promoted to Glory" on July 21, 2018, after a long battle against Asbestosis related illness. He was 79. Wm. Allen Rich was born on November 10, 1938, to William K. and Estella (Barber) Rich in Battle Creek. He attended Post Elementary, Southeastern Junior High, and Battle Creek Central High Schools. On January 17, 1959, he married Esther Marie Long in Detroit, Michigan. They made their home in Battle Creek and planned to celebrate 60 years of marriage in January 2019. Known as "Bill Rich" to his coworkers, he joined the C.W. Post Cereals Factory in 1958 where he worked in the Paint Shop and Pipe Shop retiring in 1995 after 37 years. He also played golf on the Post Golf League Team. During his youth, his family joined The Salvation Army in Battle Creek. He was a faithful "Soldier" for more than 65 years and held leadership positions including: Treasurer; Junior Bandmaster; Senior Bandmaster; and, Corp Council Member. A proud Salvation Army (S.A.) Bandsman, Allen learned to play his cornet in the Junior Band and went on to earn a scholarship to the S.A. CMI (Central Music Institute) summer camp that changed his life forever. In an effort to give back, Allen taught Junior Band in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo for more than 53 years until his illness prevented him from doing so. When he retired as Junior Band Master, the "Wm. A. Rich Junior Band Scholarship Fund" was established by his family to provide CMI summer camp scholarships to Kalamazoo S.A. Junior Band Members as his legacy. As a Boy Scout he was inducted into the "Order of the Black Arrow" and rose in leadership to become Chief Wakiki. Allen was preceded in death by his daughter, Marilyn; parents; and sister, Ermie Jane Hicks. He is survived by his wife; sister, Joann (Don) Wheeler of Meridian, MS; brother, Calvin (Jo Ann) Rich of Crofton MD; children, Timothy (Lauri) Rich of Columbia, MO; Annette (Tony) Baiocchi of Wasilla, AK; James (Rebecca) Rich of Milton Keynes, ENG; Lorri Rich of Battle Creek, MI; Valerie Rich of Henderson, NC; and Charles (Elizabeth) Rich of Beecher IL; 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held 4 6 p.m., Thursday, July 26th at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 27th at The Salvation Army, 1700 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Graveside services will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Battle Creek, immediately following the service, with reception to follow at The Salvation Army in Kalamazoo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the "Wm. A. Rich Junior Band Scholarship Fund", c/o Mr. Joel Clark, The Salvation Army, 1700 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.