Richard R. NIXON

HAMPTON - A local, well-loved raconteur has died. Lt. Col. Richard R. (Dick) Nixon died early on the morning of Oct. 8, 2010. He was 76. His death was due to natural causes following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
Dick was born Jan. 4, 1934, in Charlotte, N.C. The son of Ray Claudius and Nell Williams Nixon, Dick grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Central High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was in Air Force ROTC and was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Upon graduation from UNC, in June 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Joan Ritch.
After graduating from flight school in late 1957, Dick was stationed at Pope AFB, in Fayetteville, N.C. From 1960 to 1963, he was stationed at Elemendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, flying the C-123 Provider. He later credited the experience he gained while flying in Alaska as keeping him alive in Vietnam. He returned to teach ROTC at Clemson University from 1963 until 1967. In late 1967, Dick transitioned to the C-130 Hercules prior to his tour in South East Asia. Arriving in Vietnam just prior to the 1968 Tet Offensive, Dick participated in the re-supply of the base at Khe Sanh. He was awarded the Silver Star in recognition for his actions in support of those missions to keep Khe Sanh from being overrun. In addition to his Silver Star, he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals.
Upon return home, Dick was stationed at Langley AFB in 1969. In 1974, he did a four-year tour at CINCLANT (Commander-in-Chief Atlantic). His final assignment was with the 2nd Aircraft Delivery Group at Langley AFB from 1978 to 1980.
After leaving the Air Force, Dick ran Hampton Auto Service with his partner, Ken Updike, until he joined United Services Life Insurance of Arlington, Va. After nearly 18 years in the insurance business, he retired in 1999.
Dick had been an avid tennis player and sailor as a member of the Hampton Yacht Club. He was a member and on the Vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton. Later, he was a communicant of the Chapel of the Centurion at Fort Monroe and Christ & St. Luke's Church in Norfolk . He was also a member of the Order of Daedalians.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan Ritch Nixon. In addition, Dick is survived by a daughter, Nancy I. Nixon of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; two sons, Richard R. Jr. of Norfolk and his wife, Susan, Edward J. of Hong Kong, China; three grandchildren, Ellen R. Nixon of Arlington, Va., John P. and Julia W. Nixon of the home; a brother, William H. Nixon and niece, Sherry Nixon, both of Columbia, S.C.
There will be a visitation between 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA. Internment is planned for Arlington National Cemetery, at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Richard R. Nixon to the Daedalian Foundation, to be used towards their scholarship program. The Daedalian Foundation Scholarship Program recognizes scholars who indicate a desire to become military pilots and pursue a career in the military. Those donations can be made to the Daedalian Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Randolph AFB, Texas 78148-0249. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.