Richard grew up in Wellsville, attended the Wellsville High School and was a 1964 graduate of the school. In 1968 he came to reside in Belfast and drove truck for the Rochester Button Factory in Wellsville for many years. Later he drove truck for TRL Trucking, over the road, in Scranton, PA for several years and then The Amerigas Co. in Chaffee until his retirement in 2012.

Richard loved sports. He coached the Belfast womens town softball team, and played for the Belfast Shamrocks Team and watched all kinds of sports on TV. He truly loved all of his family, his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. He especially enjoyed watching them play sports and time spent with his family on Sundays. He also looked forward to spending time on Fourth of July with family and friends.

He was a member of the Belfast Fire Department and was an EMT for the Belfast Rescue Squad.

Surviving in addition to his wife Ethel are a son, Richard D. (Michele) Denning of Mooresville, NC; four daughters, Kim Davenport-Ralyea (John Donaldson) of Belfast, Michelle (Mike) Wonderling of Wellsville, Tamara Denning of Belfast and Lisa Denning (James Caiazza) of Belfast; grandchildren, Ashley Ralyea, Camille Denning, Brokton Ludden (Christy Tomlinson), Kyle Burdick (Nikki), Bryson Ludden (Kayla Kalkhof), Coty Winchell (Kelsea Shick), Kayla Caiazza (John Hamm), Caleb Caiazza, Colden Caiazza and Julianna Klinko; three great grandchildren, Mercedez, Owen and Paislee; a brother, Raymond Denning of Andover; three sisters, Carol Ayers of Bolivar, Sandy Lewis of Bolivar and Patricia Graves of Bath; and several nieces and nephews.

Richard was predeceased by his parents Richard L. Denning and Helen (Leo) Mix; and three brothers, Ronald Denning, Robert Denning and Jack ("Tobe") Denning.