Richard Burke Noonan

Noonan, Richard Burke
August 7, 1932 - December 11, 2010
Richard B. (Dick) Noonan, 78, passed away December 11, 2010 from complications of cancer.

Dick was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1932 and attended high school at Missouri Military Academy where he was a Golden Gloves boxer and ran track and field. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army and earned a degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha. While stationed in Alaska, he met and married Sandra Faroe in 1956. She preceded him in death in 1987.

As a member of the Army Airborne Infantry, Dick served with the 82nd Airborne (Ft. Bragg, NC), 5th Special Forces (Berlin and Heidelberg), and in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne, retiring at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1974. His commendations include Silver and Bronze Stars for valor in combat and The Purple Heart.

Dick earned a Masters in Public Administration from University of Missouri and after retiring, joined the University of Nebraska Lincoln in Labor Relations. In 1976, he joined Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and settled with his family in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A career in the private sector began with a a local insurance brokerage. Dick also co-founded 44 Blue Productions of Studio City, and was technical advisor for its military series, including WORLD OF VALOR, TRUE STORY OF BLACKHAWK DOWN and THOSE WHO DARE. He served as president of the Oregon Film & Video Foundation, and appeared as a military analyst for Fox News Channel.

He served his community in several capacities, including Sertoma Club, The Trumpeters, US Pony Clubs and Central Eastside Industrial Council. He was Executive Director of the Oregon Republican Party, and President George H. W. Bush appointed him to the Department of Labor and a seat on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Armed Services.

Dick is survived by daughter Stephanie, grandsons Michael, Thomas and Chris, son Rick and grandchildren Riley and Lexi, and son Burke and grandchildren Alec and Ashley. He also leaves behind his good friend and Golden Retriever companion Ranger. Remembrances can be made to The Disabled American Veterans Association or Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon.

Internment with Military Honors was held at Willamette National Cemetery on Dec. 21. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, January 8 at noon at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in North Hollywood.