As the crowd assembled Thursday inside the Crawfordsville National Guard Armory for Richard “Dick” Chastain’s funeral service, the atmosphere was one of a family reunion with a lot of chatter and hugs between long-time friends.
Chastain and his new wife, Marilyn, perished Aug. 5, a day after his 90th birthday, in a home explosion.
Those who gathered to honor Chastain ranged from various areas of Chastain’s life. Joining the Chastain family were members of his Liberty Chapel church family, his farming friends, local civic leaders and Indiana National Guard members.
Each speaker shared fond memories of Chastain, and common themes arose. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage came up time and again as a way to describe the life of the retired Major General.
Retired Major General Martin Umbarger served in the military with Chastain, and shared how many times he earned a promotion to fill the vacancy of a recently promoted Chastain.
“In all aspects of the General’s life, you can see how he exemplified the core values of the Army,” Umbarger said. “General Chastain embodied those values in every thing he did in life.”
The Rev. Alan Sparks spoke about the relationship Chastain had with the congregation at Liberty Chapel. Chastain was one of 25 members who welcomed Sparks into the community more that 35 years ago.
“Dick Chastain was a lot of things to a lot of people,” Sparks said during the service. “But for me, he was a fellow traveler to the Promised Land. Dick was a submissive leader in our church.”
Present Liberty Chapel Pastor Ryan Threlkeld reminded those in attendance that because of Chastain’s faith, he was confident the General was in a better place.
“I dying Dick has gained freedom,” Thelkeld said. “The General is at rest. He fought the good fight.”
Umbarger said he wanted to mold his 43 years of service to the Army to the type of leader Chastain was. Umbarger said Chastain was always the type of role model he wanted to be for others.
“I liked who Dick Chastain was and what he was like,” Umbarger said. “I knew going through the ranks, I wanted to be like him. He will always be the General to me.”
Cindy Chastain, the eldest of the four Chastain children, told the audience that listening to all the stories about her father gave her another perspective of her dad.
She spoke of how he would incorporate some mild military experience in some things like certain work chores on the family farm to even how her father called the children out of bed.
Cindy recognizes how her father loved the Army, but loved his family even more.
“He was happiest when the family was all together,” Cindy said. “After a big meal, we always sat around and told stories of growing up. Dad would sit there with a smile on his face. When it got too loud, he would turn his hearing aids off and just continue to smile.”
Chastain’s grandchildren contributed to the funeral ceremony. Hunter and Marece Chastain sang Amazing Grace. Grandson Christopher Smith presented a eulogy during the service.
Attendees were offered bus rides to Oakland Cemetery, north of Elmdale, where rain would drench the gathering.
However, a full military service was conducted by members of the Indiana National Guard and Band. The General arrived at the cemetery on a caisson. His family members walking behind in a pouring rain. The procession included two horses, including one with a boot on the side of the saddle in typical military fashion. The National Guard Band played three songs during the burial ceremony.
At the gravesite, a 13 cannon volley salute was given followed by a three volley rifle salute, playing of Taps and presentation of U.S. flags to the General’s children, Cindy, David, Jeff and Laura.
