Dr. Richard Kirk Straley, 84, of Williamsport, PA, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024. He was a respected surgeon and beloved father and grandfather.
Richard “Dick” was born in Potter County on April 15, 1940 to Albert and Edna (Traub) Straley. He was a graduate of Galeton High School, earned a BS from Penn State University and a MD at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. During his medical internship at the University of Kentucky, he met his wife of 40 years, Rebecca (Becky) Richardson. He continued his medical and orthopedic training at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and Duke University. Dick also served as a Lt. Commander and physician in the U.S. Navy in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After Dick’s medical training, he and Becky settled in Williamsport to be close to his roots. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Straley served on the staff and had operating privileges at Williamsport Hospital, Divine Providence Hospital and Muncy Valley Hospital from 1973 until his retirement in 2006.
Dr. Straley always strived to bring his profession to the next higher level of care. His accomplishments in the medical field were many. He built the Costello Center, a state-of-the-art full physical therapy clinic. He was one of the first orthopedic surgeons to perform arthroscopic surgery in Pennsylvania and the first local orthopedic trained in laser surgery which led to many advancements in hip surgery in the region. After seeing multiple little league pitchers with similar shoulder injuries, he petitioned Little League baseball to rotate pitchers out after a period of time to limit injuries which was adopted as a standard for Little League baseball.
Outside of his professional life, Dick spent as much time as possible at his beloved childhood home and farm in Germania, Potter County where he enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling and mowing hay on his antique Allis-Chalmers tractor. He was a member of Gray’s Run Rod & Gun Club where he loved to fish, shoot skeet and socialize. Dick took much pride in his vast collection of Lionel trains.
Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Becky, brother, E. “Jack” Straley, and his parents. He is survived by his children; Amy Patel (Neil) of Washington DC, Karen Elmquist (Brad) of Leesburg, VA and Richard Alan Straley of Williamsport, PA, and his eight grandchildren; Andrew Elmquist, Paige Elmquist, Caroline Patel, Annalise Straley, Charlie Patel, Ian Elmquist, Bela Patel and Oliver Straley.
The family will receive family and friends at Crouse Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 133 E. 3rd St., Williamsport on Friday, November 29 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, November 30 at 10:00 am. Burial will be next to his wife in Germania Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Dr. Richard K. Straley’s name may be to the Germania Fire Company at 18 Constitution Ave, Galeton, PA 16922 (814) 435-2670.
