Richard Walker Sasso died at 6:39 a.m. on March 8, 2017, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1934, in Colon, Panama, to Mary (Walker) and Isaac Sasso.

He graduated from Cristobal High School in Panama and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University. He opened Sasso Veterinary Hospital in Warsaw in October of 1966.  He was a member of the AVMA and the INVMA. He was also a founding member of the Rotary Club and a member of Warsaw Jaycees.

When Dr. Sasso was 17, his beloved German Shepherd, King, died of heartworm disease. As a result of King’s death, he made a promise that he would save 1,000 animals in King’s memory, which he has accomplished many times over with loving and sacrificial care.

He was a lifelong, passionate learner and enjoyed attending veterinary conferences to keep abreast of the most recent information that would enable him to give the best possible care to his clients.  In his younger days he enjoyed playing sports especially baseball, football, and racquetball.  In his later years he was an avid football spectator and enjoyed following his favorite teams.  He also enjoyed traveling to his favorite places, Panama and Sedona, AZ, with his wife Barbara. He attended Sacred Heart Parish and Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. 

On Sept. 12, 1959, he married Lyn Luske. They were blessed with three children: Dr. Rick Sasso (spouse April), Carmel; Greg Sasso (spouse Vicki), Warsaw; and Sara Rubin (spouse Scott), Westfield.

On June 19, 1988, he married Lori Hanke. They were blessed with two children: Karley Walz (spouse Tommy), South Bend; and Eric Sasso, Warsaw.

He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Ingold Sasso whom he married on Feb. 14, 2009.

He will be lovingly remembered by his 11 grandchildren:  Maria, Willa and Pilar Sasso; Matthew, Erica, Jacqueline, and Lauren Sasso; Layla, Libby, and Landon Lehr; and Johnny Walz.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. His surviving siblings include one brother, Wendell “Windy” Sasso (spouse Donna), Florida and one sister, Nancy Stokes, California.

Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 13 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw.  There will be a private family service on Tuesday, March 14.

Donations may be made to: Winona Lake Grace Brethren Building Fund 1200 Kings Highway Winona Lake, IN 46590 or The Dr. Richard Sasso Memorial Veterinarian Scholarship Fund, C/O  Kosciusko Community Foundation 102 E Market St., Warsaw, IN  46580 or online at www.kcfoundation.org/donate