Obituary for Richard Heaps Enfield, Sr.
On the eve of Christmas 2022, Richard Heaps Enfield, Sr., of Street, MD passed peacefully in his home. He was the beloved husband of the late Ella Louise (Swift) Enfield and at the time of her death in October 2014, they had shared 59 years of marriage.
Born on July 7, 1933 in Street, MD, he was one of four children born to the late Francis Wallace Enfield and Helen (Heaps) Enfield. Dick was a member of the first graduating class of North Harford High School in 1951 and took a job selling cars for Towson Ford. He met the love of his life, Ella and they were married on June 25, 1955 in Bethel Presbyterian Church, Madonna, MD. Dick purchased a farm on Rt #136 Whiteford and continued farming adding two dairy operations. After suffering two farm related fires, he sold the dairy herd and switched for a beef cattle operation with raising corn and soybeans in the late 1960’s. Dick also raised bulls for medical research with Baltimore Biological Laboratories (BBL.)
Life changed for the Enfield Family when in 1970, Dick went to the local equipment dealership in Cardiff, MD to purchase a John Deere Combine. Upon his arrival, the current owners stated they would help him secure this purchase, however, at the moment, they were meeting with the John Deere Representatives and their lawyers to sell the dealership. It was mentioned that would he be interested in purchasing the dealership and a week later, Dick traveled to Syracuse, New York to ‘seal the deal.” His first shipment of John Deere 3020 and 4020 tractors were brought to Delta on the MA&PA Railroad to Bunker Hill Station where the engineer and conductor quickly mentioned that the weight of the shipment had the rails shaking. Each tractor was unloaded and driven to the dealership including help from his son, Rick down Main Street. Thus began Enfield Equipment, a well-known business that served generations and countless regions with the John Deere Equipment sales and service.
In 1972, it was decided to move the dealership out of town and the Enfields purchased property on RT #165 in Whiteford, MD to construct a new building. Even with local opposition from neighbors, farmers from all over came to the zoning meeting at Harford County to support this new adventure that would provide them local service. In addition, the business provided employment to the community and many new graduates. In the late 1980’s Dick restablished the John Deere dealership in Oxford, PA and expended to a father and son business relationship. Rick, Jr. was a familiar face at the Whiteford location after graduating from the same high school and assisted his father for many years with the equipment dealership as well as the farming the 400-450 acres of crops. In 1997, the dealership was first sold to Deer Creek Equipment and then to the locally known Atlantic Tractor in 2005.
Dick had a love for dairy cattle and did some judging in FFA during school. He was always supporting the local 4-Hers and FFA members with their project animals and the judging teams. He enjoyed crabbing and when at home gardening and growing those delicious tomatoes. He was known to be a hunter and loved to drive the boat with family and friends skiing behind.
Dick had been a lifelong member of Highland Presbyterian Church where he had served as a trustee and Sunday School Superintendent. Dick will be remembered for his love of agriculture, family and supporting youth as they pursued their interests in farming; however, it will be his short of smile that will be missed.
Dick is survived by two children, Richard H. (Joy) Enfield, Jr. of Whiteford, MD, and Cynthia (Richard) Poteet, also of Whiteford, MD. In addition to his children, three loving grandchildren, Richard Alexander Poteet, Amelia Poteet (Travis) Scampton, Jodi Lee (Michael) Kavanagh and two great grandchildren, Ella Jane Scampton and Adalyn May Scampton. A sister, Dorothy Enfield Macy, of Street, MD and was preceded in death by a brother, Francis Wallace Enfield, Jr. and a sister, Lois Enfield Akeurst.
A viewing will be held on Friday, December 30, 2022 from 11 am until 2 pm at Highland Presbyterian Church, 701 Highland Road, Street, MD 21154 followed immediately with the funeral with his pastor, Reverend Raymond Meute, Jr. officiating. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery next to his beloved Ella.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the church memorial fund at the above address.
Born on July 7, 1933 in Street, MD, he was one of four children born to the late Francis Wallace Enfield and Helen (Heaps) Enfield. Dick was a member of the first graduating class of North Harford High School in 1951 and took a job selling cars for Towson Ford. He met the love of his life, Ella and they were married on June 25, 1955 in Bethel Presbyterian Church, Madonna, MD. Dick purchased a farm on Rt #136 Whiteford and continued farming adding two dairy operations. After suffering two farm related fires, he sold the dairy herd and switched for a beef cattle operation with raising corn and soybeans in the late 1960’s. Dick also raised bulls for medical research with Baltimore Biological Laboratories (BBL.)
Life changed for the Enfield Family when in 1970, Dick went to the local equipment dealership in Cardiff, MD to purchase a John Deere Combine. Upon his arrival, the current owners stated they would help him secure this purchase, however, at the moment, they were meeting with the John Deere Representatives and their lawyers to sell the dealership. It was mentioned that would he be interested in purchasing the dealership and a week later, Dick traveled to Syracuse, New York to ‘seal the deal.” His first shipment of John Deere 3020 and 4020 tractors were brought to Delta on the MA&PA Railroad to Bunker Hill Station where the engineer and conductor quickly mentioned that the weight of the shipment had the rails shaking. Each tractor was unloaded and driven to the dealership including help from his son, Rick down Main Street. Thus began Enfield Equipment, a well-known business that served generations and countless regions with the John Deere Equipment sales and service.
In 1972, it was decided to move the dealership out of town and the Enfields purchased property on RT #165 in Whiteford, MD to construct a new building. Even with local opposition from neighbors, farmers from all over came to the zoning meeting at Harford County to support this new adventure that would provide them local service. In addition, the business provided employment to the community and many new graduates. In the late 1980’s Dick restablished the John Deere dealership in Oxford, PA and expended to a father and son business relationship. Rick, Jr. was a familiar face at the Whiteford location after graduating from the same high school and assisted his father for many years with the equipment dealership as well as the farming the 400-450 acres of crops. In 1997, the dealership was first sold to Deer Creek Equipment and then to the locally known Atlantic Tractor in 2005.
Dick had a love for dairy cattle and did some judging in FFA during school. He was always supporting the local 4-Hers and FFA members with their project animals and the judging teams. He enjoyed crabbing and when at home gardening and growing those delicious tomatoes. He was known to be a hunter and loved to drive the boat with family and friends skiing behind.
Dick had been a lifelong member of Highland Presbyterian Church where he had served as a trustee and Sunday School Superintendent. Dick will be remembered for his love of agriculture, family and supporting youth as they pursued their interests in farming; however, it will be his short of smile that will be missed.
Dick is survived by two children, Richard H. (Joy) Enfield, Jr. of Whiteford, MD, and Cynthia (Richard) Poteet, also of Whiteford, MD. In addition to his children, three loving grandchildren, Richard Alexander Poteet, Amelia Poteet (Travis) Scampton, Jodi Lee (Michael) Kavanagh and two great grandchildren, Ella Jane Scampton and Adalyn May Scampton. A sister, Dorothy Enfield Macy, of Street, MD and was preceded in death by a brother, Francis Wallace Enfield, Jr. and a sister, Lois Enfield Akeurst.
A viewing will be held on Friday, December 30, 2022 from 11 am until 2 pm at Highland Presbyterian Church, 701 Highland Road, Street, MD 21154 followed immediately with the funeral with his pastor, Reverend Raymond Meute, Jr. officiating. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery next to his beloved Ella.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the church memorial fund at the above address.