What would you like to share about Richard?

A Poem for Grandpa

Nov 17, 2022

 A white egret tiptoes along

 the calm of the warm, salty Gulf waters.

 Here, we trudge happily,

 across thick, manicured grass,

 to climb the citrus trees,

 squeezing limes and oranges into tart juice.

 We seal memories into

 the cuts from razor-sharp barnacles.

 Laughter echoes under low ceilings

 and stretches across the finger.  

 Papayas in brown paper bags.

 What a gift, to grow up this way.

 Steady like the Gulf,

 Grandpa’s main gift to us

 was unconditional love.

 He was an anchor for our family,

 challenging us not to squander

 a life saturated with acceptance.

 He guided us by example,

 a demure compass that always pointed

 to home, to family.

 Come along, son.

 These nautical analogies, for a sailor

 who did not particularly like the sea,

 yet spent most of his life by the water.

Grandpa had many gifts.

 He unearthed adventure,

 passing on a yearning for the new,

 embracing the yes.

 He was an artist,

 talent animating our Christmas cards,

 and adorning our homes.

 Unselfconscious around the edges,

 he made us laugh until we peed.

The austere shape of the soldier belied

 the internal softness of a man,

 who cherished his wife until her final days,

 and long after;

 who adapted to the changing tides,

 never passing judgment on others;

 who, “Hi, Honey”, and kissed our hands.

 Tears upon leaving.

 Rida Rida Ranka.

Precious is our borrowed time with grandparents.

Lasting are the impressions created.

Grandpa shaped us.

What a gift, to carry him with us into our next adventures.

-LB and Marissa

Nov 13, 2022

I am the most fortunate to have gotten to know Grandpa and grow so close in the last 7 months of his life.  I was there under the pretense of helping to care for Grandpa, but I’ve since realized that he’s taught me more about life and love than I knew possible. He constantly verbalized his appreciation and love for me. Grandpa worried for me, laughed with me, teased me, and always expressed his gratitude for our relationship.  Grandpa just being Grandpa taught me how to receive love and I will be eternally grateful for his enormous presence in my life.

- that gal who would do anything for you

Nov 12, 2022

I absolutely loved my Uncle Dick since I was a small child.  I stayed the night with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick when I was around 10 years of age.  He was so funny and I enjoyed my 3 little cousins Richie,  Ronnie and Roy.  We played and I felt so special while I was there.  I noticed at a very early age that he was a devoed dad and husband.  He had such a great sense of humor and always making me laugh.  He got into photography and always had a camera in my face.  He developed and printed the photos and always gave me copies.  We spent New Years Eve with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick along with my parents at the officers Cub when I was around 21.    We had a blast!!  He took my picture for the Ft.Sill paper for the largest fireworks display here in Lawton,  Oklahoma with the headline saying I was buying the first ticket.   He always made me feel so special! I was very fond of him and loved him so much.  I could go on and on about my Uncle Dick and  how much he influenced my life .  The  best part is I knew he loved me.  My heart will always miss you.   Love from your niece, Yvonne Hardy Brown 

Nov 11, 2022

I wanted to share a memory,  but a memory is something recalled from the past, and Grandpa's spirit is very much alive for me. My present is imbued with so many small moments of past generosity, acceptance, and appreciation from my grandfather. My childhood was made more colorful by our frequent visits to Treasure Island, where Nanny and Grandpa treated us like we were literal gifts. But some of my favorite moments with Grandpa occurred in my adulthood, when he and I developed a real friendship. In Washington, we drank together at the home bar of one of his oldest friends; in Las Vegas, we devised the most risk averse way to play the slots; at the Petrified Forest, he produced a photoshoot for me, relying on his journalism skills to frame the shots; and in Kansas City, he showed me where and how he grew up. Grandpa may have appeared stern and guarded, but I grew to understand that he was open. He began to confide in me, and I in him. As he got older, he was less afraid to show emotion. I always knew that one of his strongest emotions was pride in us. Sometimes he would feign embarrassment at me, for example when he took me to the airport lounge and I put a gin and tonic in a coffee cup to sneak onto the plane, but I knew he would never really be embarrassed. In that instance, he topped up my subterfuge drink before we left the lounge. I always knew I could never do anything to lose his unwavering love. I know how rare and special this relationship has been. I am so fortunate to have had my Grandpa alive for so much of my life.

-LB

Nov 11, 2022

I was lucky enough to know Dick and Lou through AFA. Dick was the most modest, kind man. He could tell the most fascinating stories in the quietest way.  When I served with him on the AFA Board, he was such a teacher and mentor.  It was through his efforts that AFA is still here and the successful school it is.  He always gave others credit for that but it was his hard work and perseverance that made it happen.  Our trips to the northern campus were always an adventure!  It was a privilege to call him my friend. He will be missed. 

Claudia Sokolowski 

Nov 10, 2022

From: Sandra Jutsum

Loved my uncle Dick. My greatest memory was when I was a teenager and Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick came over to the United Kingdom. My mum wouldn't buy me any high heel shoes that I so desperately wanted but my aunt and uncle took me to the store and bought me a pair. I have never forgotten that and never will I was thrilled to bits. He used to go round the corners fast in his car to make me fall on him and then said Sandra stop keep falling on your uncle. He will be greatly missed

Nov 9, 2022

One of my favorite memories is from February 1982 when I was still a fairly new Wheeler. Nanny (Louisa) and I flew to London to meet Ron who had been working overseas and was returning. The three of us stayed at her sister, Ada's house until Grandpa and Rich flew in for a long weekend as a surprise. Rich's parents loved the flight benefits they were eligible for through Rich's job at Pan Am.

Grandpa and Nanny went around the world in 1981 for 6 weeks while we watched their 2 dogs. Rich bought their tickets as an anniversary gift. They arrived back about 3 days before Rich and I got married.

On a trip to St Croix, when I was very pregnant, Grandpa braided my hair. I later realized these were skills he learned in Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts helped to shape his life and he had so many fond memories of attending camp and earning the rank of Eagle.

For a few years, Grandpa painted on jars, flowers, family portraits, one is even auto biographical. Lovely mementos that we use and will remember this very talented man.

In Grandpa's later years he began to really appreciate flowers, which I love. I would bring him fresh flowers from the yard or the store and he would humor me by looking at pictures of flowers with me.

I was lucky enough to share wonderful adventures with Grandpa during our 40+ years. Many memories I will forever cherish. It's hard to imagine a world without him in it.