The spring before his 70th birthday, Richard Franklin Mettler sidled up to the bungee trampoline nestled on the white sands of Clearwater Beach and eyed the safety warning sign. According to its listed restrictions, including conditions of physical health and cognitive impairment, he was, in that moment, the definition of a person unfit to bounce. Undeterred, he bounced anyway.

For 75 years, that was how Richard, who went by Dick, lived his full and vibrant life. And it was in that same fashion that he spent his final days, surrounded by beloved friends and his large, boisterous family, recounting old tales, cracking crass jokes and quoting one of his favorite songs – Frank Sinatra's "My Way." He passed peacefully and comfortably on July 18, 2016.

Dick was born to Ruth and Charles "Dovey" Mettler Oct. 15, 1940, in Bluffton, Ind., where he lived for nearly eight decades. Those roots, deep and strong, were most apparent through the family he raised, the life he built, the community in which he invested.

He was an avid crossword puzzle solver, a fierce Scrabble competitor, a diehard Boilermaker and walking Encyclopedia of all things WWII. Above all, he loved to dance.

Where music played, Dick would twirl and dip anyone willing, but his favorite partner was always his Bennie Jo. If you asked him, it was on the dance floor where they fell in love. In her words, he was "one hell of a dancer." The two were married in the summer of 1963.

They raised three sons and watched with pride as those sons brought them five grandchildren, built businesses and carried on Dick's fierce sense of family loyalty. He never missed an opportunity to brag on the successes of them all.

In most recent years, he was best known as the old guy on the golf cart at sporting events, but his fandom for Bluffton athletics and the Bengal Brigade began long before that. He graduated from Bluffton High School in 1958 and remained involved in the system as a color guard instructor and later as a de facto coach to his children, grandchildren and dozens of other BHS athletes he adopted as his own along the way.

That unwavering dedication to young people was apparent through his work with the Elks Lodge, where he held many state and local leadership positions, including Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, and served as the district chairman of the Elks National Foundation, the organization's scholarship arm. For years, he help organize and run the Elks Hoop Shoot contest for the Bluffton Elks, Lodge 796.

Dick worked at Wayne Metal for most of his career and retired after more than 30 years of service.

It was in retirement Dick became his truest self. During the summer, he and Bennie Jo would migrate north to the lakes, where they spent their time cruising in their pontoon, listening to Elvis and sipping cold beer. They would return each September in time for Street Fair, Dick's favorite week of the year, where he served as the steward of a family tradition established nearly a century ago by his mother, Ruth. At the fish stand, and in many aspects of his life, Dick was the master of public relations, lending his memory and wit to the droves of people hankering for a famous sandwich.

Between random, surprise trips to visit their youngest son in Texas, Dick and Bennie wintered back home in Bluffton, always courtside for BHS basketball games and poolside for swim meets. The teams knew him well; the refs knew him better.

And come spring, his enthusiastic voice would boom from the press box at Tiger softball games, where he boastfully offered colorful play-by-plays and a stirring rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. To all softball girls, he was their grandpa, too.

In him, we all were blessed with an unrivaled, unwavering No. 1 fan. He will be so deeply, holistically missed.

Dick is survived by his wife, Bennie Jo Mettler of Bluffton, and their three sons; Rick (Jeannine) Mettler of Bluffton; Mark (Joy) Mettler of Fort Wayne; Chris Mettler of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Katie, Connelly and Caroline Mettler; Zach Mettler and Erika (Denny) Squires; great-grandchildren Mason and Max; grand-dog Sophie; and a wealth of friends he considered family.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Charles "Dovey" Mettler; brother, Bob Mettler; and an infant sister who passed during childbirth.

There will be a public viewing on Wednesday, July 20, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Goodwin-Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel. The funeral service will be on Thursday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. with Chad Ringger officiating with a pre-service viewing at 9:30 a.m. At Dick's request, all past officers are invited to stand at his casket in their blues and greys.

Memorials in his name will go to the Elks National Foundation and Bluffton Athletics.