Richard “Dick” Entriken Ludwick, 95

Richard “Dick” Entriken Ludwick, a life-long long resident of Pottstown and owner of Ludwick Motors – Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge, Pottstown, passed away on Friday November 12. Born Feb. 3, 1926, in Pottstown, PA. He was a graduate of the Hill School in 1944 and Pierce Business College in 1948. Dick was a WWII Army veteran where he honorably served in the European Theater as a Staff Sergeant in the 774 Tank Battalion in Germany and for a brief time in George Patton’s tank division.

Upon return from the war, Dick realized he wanted to be in sales. And what a salesman he was - whether selling new and used cars at Ludwick Motors, selling peanuts to raise funds for the Kiwanis fund or selling people on donating to the YMCA or the First Presbyterian Church.

Dick’s father, “Jack” G. Ludwick Jr, was part-owner of Krause Ludwick Motors when Dick joined the dealership in 1950. The same year he married the love of his life Virginia “Ginny” Egolf Ludwick, the dealership burned to the ground and his first child was born. That year his father bought out Krause, rebuilt, renamed the dealership Ludwick Motors and the rest is Pottstown history. After Jack Jr passed in 1961, Dick managed the business with the help of his brother Jack III. The business grew selling new Chryslers, Plymouths, European sport car imports, and later Dodge cars, RAM trucks and used cars. The business provided employment for over 40 wonderful employees. Dick eventually became president of Ludwick Leasing and president of Ludwick Motors.

He had a great love for automobiles and was involved in many automotive organizations. He was past President of the Pottstown Area Automobile Dealers Association, area chairman of the Pennsylvania Automobile Dealers Association, member of the of the Safety Committee of the Pennsylvania Automobile Dealers Association, Delegate to the National Chrysler Plymouth Dealer Council Association, and District Delegate to the Chrysler Plymouth Advertising Association. Under his leadership, Ludwick Motors regularly was awarded the prestigious 5 Star Excellence Award from Chrysler.

Dick Ludwick was very involved in the Pottstown community and many civic organizations. He was a long-term member of the Pottstown YMCA Board of Trustees and former treasurer. Furthermore, he was the first recipient of the Pottstown YMCA “Layman of the Year” award. Dick was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pottstown Division of the American Heart Association. He was a very active member of the Pottstown Kiwanis Club and a past president. He was also a member and past president of the Pottstown Jaycees. Dick was active in United Way campaigns and a former member of the Elks Lodge #814. He was a member of Masonic Stichter Lodge #245 F&AM, Rajah Shrine Temple where he became a 32 degree Mason and past president of the Good Fellowship Club of the Reading Consistory. In addition, Dick was a former Board member of the Pottstown Chamber of Commerce. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts where he was former Chairman of sustaining membership enrollment. Upon retirement at age 74 when he sold Ludwick Motors, he devoted much of his time to the Pottstown Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) where he helped businessmen and women start a new small business or improve an existing small business. He eventually became a Board member and Chairman of SCORE.

Dick loved playing golf and was a long-term member of Brookside Country Club. Hunting deer in upstate Pennsylvania just after Thanksgiving every year was always a highlight of his year. He also enjoyed being a member of the Antique Car Club of America where he and Ginny had wonderful times together going to antique automobile shows and on tours with his six antique cars. He and Ginny also enjoyed playing cards with friends, traveling to foreign countries, and vacationing at their home in Ocean City, NJ. He was an active, longstanding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown where he was a former deacon and vice-president of Church Trustees as well as a charter founding member of the building endowment fund.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginny. He is survived by his three children. Richard, “Rick” Ludwick, Jr. (wife Marilyn) of Libertytown, MD, Linda Nitsche (husband John) of Chester Springs, PA and David Ludwick, MD (wife Gabrielle) of Chambersburg, PA along with seven grandchildren - Susan Tang, Julie Perona, Jessica Gartman, Todd Nitsche, Andrew Ludwick, John Ludwick and Leanne Ludwick and three great-grandchildren - Kelsey Tang, Leah Tang, and Luna Perona.

Family, friends, and those whose life was touched by Dick are invited Saturday, Nov. 20 to the First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown to reminisce and celebrate his life. Viewing is from 10:30-11:30 am with the Funeral Service at 12 noon. Internment with Military Funeral Honors will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery and Mausoleum following the church funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown, 750 N Evans St, Pottstown, PA 19464.

Add My Condolences

My deepest sympathy to the family. A loss for our community. I was privileged to know Mr. Ludwick from an early age when asking for his sponsorship ads for St. Aloysius School and then working with him as an adult for our Pottstown YMCA. He and Ginny were a blessing and will be missed.

~ Jane Alan Bennett
11/17/2021 3:28:40 PM

Our deepest condolences to the Ludwick family. I will never forget how warm and welcoming they both were to me and my family during Linda and John’s wedding celebrations. A life well lived.

~ Beverly Kindt DeSignot
11/15/2021 7:17:50 PM