Richard V. Bibber, 83 years, CEO of Bibber Memorial Chapels, a well-known and beloved Kennebunk funeral director, died peacefully Wednesday, March 8, 2023, after a brief illness, with his family by his side. He was the husband of Patricia A. (Turgeon) Bibber.

Dick was born in Portland, on Sept. 24, 1939, the son of the late Earl V. and Phyllis (Maxham) Bibber. He attended Kennebunkport schools and graduated from Kennebunk High School in the class of 1957. He then attended the University of Southern Maine prior to receiving his degree at New England Institute of Mortuary Science in Boston. While living at the funeral home on Maine Street in Kennebunkport, he was active in the local Boy Scout Troop, as well as the Arundel Engine Company, now the Kennebunkport Village Fire Department.

He mowed lawns in the summer seasons, along with working at the funeral home, which for a time, held the first communication center in the town. In the mid-’60s, he attended classes at Harvard University in Boston learning CPR and completed the 91 Hour Basic EMT courses. He afterward came home and taught classes to other emergency responders and area businesses, with his wife Patty, in the York County area. The firm operated the ambulance service for the towns of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport for over 40 years before donating the equipment to K.E.M.S. in 1979.

Dick was active in many civic and community organizations, including a member of the Kennebunk Fire Department, serving as driver, captain and deputy chief for over 28 years. He served on the Kennebunk Budget Board and as a selectman for the town. He was a 50-plus year member and past Master of Arundel Lodge of Masons, serving as trustee of that lodge, and a 50-year member of the Maine Consistory 32 degree of all Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Portland. He was also a member of all York Rite Bodies, a 50-year member and past potentate (1997) of Kora Shrine Center of Lewiston, a member and past president of the York County Shrine Club, a founding member of the Shrine Renegade Unit, a member, Past Director Emeritus and life member of Put Stevens Court, Royal Order of Jesters, an emeritus member of the Constable Committee of Royal Order of Jesters, a member and past president of the Maine Funeral Directors Association and a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.

His firm is a Member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, where he served as director and president of that national and international organization. Dick served for 25 years as a member of the board of trustees of Kennebunk Savings and served as chairman of the board, as well as various committees within the bank, retiring from the board in 2015. Active in Kennebunk Rotary over 50 years, he was honored to be a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the South Congregational Church and served as a deacon of the church for several years.

In his younger years, he and his wife Patricia enjoyed traveling in their motor home and going on many adventures together around the country. He enjoyed ocean fishing off Kennebunkport as a member of the Arundel Yacht Club. In his later years, he could often be found driving around town in his 1938 Model A. One of his favorite places was the Rangeley Lakes region, where he went hunting and fishing in his spare time. He loved feeding the deer and spending quality time at his camp in Oquossoc with family and friends.

Bibber Memorial Chapel was truly his life’s opus, coming into the office every day until a few weeks before his passing. He expanded the business several times over the years, building the chapel in Wells in 1987, purchasing the chapel in Berwick in 2002 and most recently purchased Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green in Alfred in 2022. His passion and dedication to serving the community, during one of the most difficult times of people’s lives, has been a model passed on to his sons as well as his dedicated staff. His legacy will live on.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, Earl V. and Phyllis M. Bibber and his step-mother, Ruth Brann Bibber.

He is survived by his loving wife Patricia of 47 years of Kennebunk; two sons, both active in the firm, Edward V. Bibber and his wife Patti of Kennebunk and Douglas R. Bibber and his wife Robin of Arundel; four grandchildren, Grace Bibber and her companion Kevin Mulhern, Jr. of Kennebunk, Erin Gambino and her husband Dominic of Farmington, Connectucut, Luke Bibber and companion Chloe Leida of Lyman and Carly Bibber and her fiancé Dan Chaloux of Falmouth; a sister, Martha A. (Bibber) Schmidt and husband Paul of Boise, Idaho, as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins. He will be greatly missed by his directors and staff, both past and present, of Bibber Memorial Chapels, as well as a host of friends he has collected over the years.

Friends may call from 1-3:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2023, at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043, where a Masonic Service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at St. Martha’s Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk, ME. Interment will follow at Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport.

Should friends desire, memorial donations in Richard’s memory can be made to a charity that speaks to your heart.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit Dick’s Book of Memories at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk.