Rich grew up in Carlisle, he graduated Carlisle High School and loved being a part of the Thundering Herd Cross Country team. He spent most of his adult life overseas living a simple but happy life.  Rich had always wanted to serve his country but was unable to due to a physical limitation. He helped his country by working in support roles on military bases in Germany and finished his career working several years to support our troops in Afghanistan.  He took keeping our soldiers safe very seriously and took great pride in maintaining and updating fire safety aspects on military vehicles.  Rich was always willing to go the extra mile for anyone that asked him. He was always the first in and the last to leave working hard and putting in long hours at every job he had.

Rich enjoyed many wonderful years traveling Europe with his ailing mother in the years preceding her death, as he said it was a special time and he felt lucky to share it with her.  He spent alot of that time gathering treasures to sell at his future antique store which he planned to name Girvins after his beloved Grandfather.  His childhood pillow in the shape of an elephant (named WoWo) started a lifelong love and respect for elephants. He collected many beautiful elephant figurines and gave generously to The Elephant sanctuary which takes in abused and injured elephants.

Illness prevented him from returning to work so he spent his final years in a peaceful neighborhood in Carlisle. He quickly became the resident share a smile and lend a listening ear guy of the street. He was adored by his neighbors and he was often found to be lending a hand for any chore they needed. He was proud to be the nice guy with a snow blower who helped everyone around him.

Rich was preceded in death by his beloved Grandparents, William Harper and Bonnie S. Girvin as well as his beloved mother, Susan McDermott.

Rich will be sadly missed by those left behind, his brother, Christian Harper Newman, sister in law, Kimberly Ann Newman and his nephew William Newman, his sister, Jennifer N. Daley, brother in law, Dan A. Daley and his niece, Grace Ann Daley as well as his father, Richard G. Newman. Also many uncles, aunts, cousins and deeply loved friends will also miss him.

Rich was a kind and gentle soul who made the world a better place for all. His fur children kitties, Meigs and Sterling were his pride and joy and they gave him great comfort and company in his final years. They will be going to live with Rich’s sister till they are ready to join their Daddy in Heaven.

A visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2016 followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St, Carlisle.  Any donations in Rich’s memory would be graciously accepted by The Elephant Sanctuary at https://www.elephants.com/ or mailed to The Elephant Sanctuary, PO Box 393, 27 East Main St., Hohenwald, TN 38462.

And as Rich always said " It is what it is".