Richard F. Kline, Jr.

Richard F. Kline, Jr., age 89, of Frederick, Maryland passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at his home (Auburn Springs) in Thurmont, Maryland. Born November 6, 1933, in Frederick, Maryland, he was the late son of Richard F. Kline, Sr. and Nellie Naomi Mullinix Kline. He was proceeded in death by his parents and younger brother Thomas D. Kline, Sr. Mr. Kline attended public school in Frederick and graduated from Mercersburg Academy. He attended Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College), Westminster, Md. in 1957.

Mr. Kline was Vice President of R. F. Kline, Inc., a Maryland based highway construction company, founded by his father in 1946, after which he and his brother Thomas owned.

A lifelong theater organ enthusiast, Mr. Kline was a member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Guild of Organist and a very active member of The American Theatre Organ Society, serving on its national board for years. Mr. Kline installed one of the largest privately owned Wurlitzer theatre pipe organs in his music room in Thurmont, Maryland during the 1960’s. The theatre organ, often used for recording, was visited over the years by thousands of organ enthusiasts and was heard throughout the United States and England in a series of recordings made by Angel Records by Lee Erwin, a well know NYC organist and Lyn Larson, a brilliant player from Phoenix, Az. The 1927 organ was originally installed in the Fox Theatre, the largest theatre in Washington, D.C. Much of the restoration work was done by the Moller Organ Company in Hagerstown, Md. and much of the original installation was done by the curator of Radio City Music Hall in New York. The theater organ has been dismantled and it is currently being installed in a family home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mr. Kline lived much of his life in Washington, D.C., where he had a home in Georgetown on 32nd Street. He was a member of the City Tavern Club and the Arts Club and counted many of the leading organists in the Washington area including the music staff of the National Cathedral as his closest friends.

He served as trustee and a member of the executive committee for many years at Western Maryland College. Mr. Kline was also a past president of the Frederick Cotillion Club.

He is survived by many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins in the Frederick area, especially his niece Katrina Kline and her friend Joe who helped in his comfort for so many years. The lifelong friendship Mr. Kline kept with Gladys Ridge and Carol McCutcheon can never be matched. Mr. Kline also wishes to give a very special thank you to his very good friend Carlos Castro. Without Carlos’ constant help, Mr. Kline would not have been able to stay at Auburn Springs for the last years of his life. Thank you, Carlos.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Frederick County for their compassion during Mr. Kline’s time of need. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Mr. Kline’s name to frederickhealthhospice.org or by check to Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701.

A celebration of life will take place at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church St, Frederick, Maryland, on Saturday February 18, 2023, at 11:00AM . Inurnment will be private at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland.