Richard “Rick” Allen Wenklar, 77, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at his home in Rougemont. He was born in Johnstown, PA to the late Leon and Jeanette Wenklar. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Spencer and Jessica Ireland; grandsons James Burnett, Tristan Sterling, and Keagan Spencer; and great granddaughter, Riley Burnett.

Rick graduated from Cornell University in 1969 with an engineering degree and was known as “Wink” to his fraternity brothers in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He earned his master’s degree in computer science in 1997 from NC State. He was a brilliant computer programmer and worked at IBM from 1969 to 1999, where he received multiple patents for writing computer code. He had many interests and hobbies including riding dirt bikes and running when he was younger, riding motorcycles and teaching motorcycle safety after he retired, and was an active member in the Durham Harley Owners Group. He also participated in Orange County CERT and was a lifelong ham radio operator. He loved to tinker with things, especially taking things apart, and was always intrigued with technology. He was unapologetically quirky, had a great sense of humor, and was absolutely his own man.

A memorial service will be held at Clements Funeral & Cremation Services in Durham on Saturday May 3rd at 1 pm.