Deacon Richard K. Prien, a longtime director of religious education at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield, died May 9 at 88.
He was born Bradford Richard Tinkler June 29, 1934, to Clancy and Hazel Tinkler in Los Angeles. He majored in history at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. There he met wife, Elaine Hassler. They married in 1954 and had six children. He graduated in 1955 and earned his master’s in history at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., in 1956.
He joined the U.S. Navy and served 1956-78. He worked in both intelligence and meteorology. From 1978 to 1994, he was director of religious education at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield.
In 1979, he was ordained a permanent deacon in the diocese.
He is pre-deceased by his brother James Tinkler, half-sister Sheryl Prien, half-sister Sandy Tinkler, and son John Prien. He is survived by daughters Anita Prien, Helen Prien and Karen Farabaugh (husband, Michael), Emily (husband, John Paul Janaro); sons Rich Prien and Kenneth Prien (wife, Viki); foster son Miguel Penafiel (wife, Cathy); half-sisters Robin Tinkler, Donna Sweeten, and Allison Smith; and multiple grandchildren.
A vigil will be held May 17 at Donald G. Walker Funeral Home, 231 High St., Flemington, Pa., 5-7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered May 18 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lock Haven, Pa., 11 a.m. Ashes will be inurned at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlottesville, Va.
