Richard Lee "Dick" Somazze, Sr.

Richard Lee “Dick” Somazze, Sr., 83, of Lynchburg, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Lynchburg General Hospital. He was the husband of the late Eleanor Carolyn Messick Somazze, his beloved wife, for 56 years.

Born on January 26, 1943 in Oella, Maryland, he was the son of the late Leo Richard Somazze and Beatrice Paddy Wise. He was a member of BHHC Hunt Club. He was a 1961 graduate of Margaret Brent High School. He also graduated from St. Mary’s College and the University of Maryland. Dick was the former owner of a Western Auto in the Fairview Heights area and a former realtor with Century 21. He also sold and built homes. Dick had a passion for agriculture. He enjoyed landscaping, tending to his garden, and raising fruit trees.

He is survived by two children, Carolyn Sue Fodel and husband, Charles of Winston-Salem, N.C. and Richard Lee Somazze, Jr. of Lynchburg, Va. and Nina Stolzenberg of Northfield, N.J.; five grandchildren, Kaitlyn Somazze of Albuquerque, N.M., Duncan Fodel of Winston-Salem, N.C., Patrick Somazze of Lynchburg, Va., Connor Fodel of Asheville, N.C., and Lacey Somazze of Lynchburg, Va.; one sister, Bette Gill and husband, Bill of Fallston, MD; two sisters-in-law, Zora Siemasko of Lexington Park, MD and Betty Redding of Urbana, IL ; three nieces, Amanda Goddard of Fallston, MD, Zora Helen Siemasko of Edinburgh, Va., and Karyn Siemasko of Raleigh, N.C.; and two nephews, Dennis Redding and John Redding.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hannah Marie Somazze; stepfather, Herbert Wise; and a brother, Mark Wise.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2026, at Robinson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Cumbie Memorial Cemetery, Rustburg at 12:30 p.m.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Robinson Funeral Home.

Robinson Funeral Home and Cremation Service is serving the family. An online condolence may be sent by visiting www.robinsonfuneral.com