Richard Lodge

LODGE, Richard S. "Dick" of Clearwater, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the age of 89. He was born in La Grange, IL, March 26, 1922. He met his wife, the former Marie-Gay Owen, at a high school dance in Washington, D.C. They would have celebrated their 67th anniversary on June 29, 2011. Following high school in Washington, DC, Dick attended and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1944. He was a WWII veteran, serving in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic during the war. He resigned his commission in 1947, to work as an electrical engineer at Melpar, a prominent defense R&D contractor. He later moved to Honeywell, where he marketed aircraft guidance systems to the Pentagon. In 1959, he transferred to Honeywell Aerospace near Clearwater. Dick was a commissioner for the town of Belleair, from 1972 to 1976, and served as mayor from 1977 to 1979. He was active in his two sons' Boy Scout Troop 456 and taught Sunday School at First United Methodist Church in Clearwater, where he and his wife were members for 51 years. In retirement, he enjoyed many Coast Guard class reunions, church activities, and a family summer home in the Endless Mountains of north-eastern PA. He often played organ at the Methodist Church in Forksville, PA and was known for playing the piano at social gatherings in his home and wherever a piano was present and a request to "tickle the ivories" was made. He retained his love of sailing, golfing, playing the piano, church and business friends, and family all his life. He was a loving husband and father and loved by those who knew him for his sense of humor, common sense, kindness, intellect, and great sense of personal integrity. He is survived by his wife, Marie-Gay Lodge; his son, Richard W. Lodge (retired engineer for Procter & Gamble) of Cincinnati, OH (wife Martha); son, John S. Lodge (staff attorney at The Law Source, Inc.) of Gainesville, (wife Jeanne); daughter, Marie-Louise Lodge (Director of Information Resources, Studio Art Centers International) of Florence, Italy; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and dear family friend, William "Sandy" Madley. Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 411 Turner Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, on Monday, June 20th at 11 am. Donations, in lieu of flowers may be made to the West Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, 11046 Johnson Boulevard, Seminole, FL 33772.