Richard Musick

MUSICK, Richard Morgan, 65, died April 15, 2010 at Sentara Obici Hospital. Richard was predeceased by his father, Jack W. Musick, and brother, Charles W. Musick. Richard Morgan Musick was a passionate man who loved God, life, America, family, and friends. A true aviator, he owned and operated Mercury Flight Center in Chesapeake for the past 27 years. He helped innumerable student pilots achieve their aviation dreams in a warm and welcoming environment. Richard also donated countless hours of his time to aid in life-saving events through air transportation. Captain Richard Musick served as a Marine Corps Casualty Evacuation MH-46 helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, with the Purple Fox Unit. His service medals include the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Civilian Act Medal. Richard continued to defend the United States throughout his lifetime. Following 9/11, he served in the Special Operations community, participating in numerous counter-terrorism operations. Most recently he supported Rapid Reaction Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Relief Operations after the 2010 Haitian earthquake. He is credited with the evacuation of 105 U.S. dependent children and the delivery of the medical supplies necessary to keep 11 Haitian field hospitals operating in the early days after the earthquake. Because of his considerable dedication and continuing service to the nation, he was asked by the 9/11 responders and family communities to stand with them in the annual remembrance at Ground Zero in New York. An extremely proud professional accomplishment was that, despite various missions of considerable risk, "he never left a man in the zone." His service to God includes serving a Christian Missionary Mission to Peru. As a family man Richard was a dependable, committed, and caring husband who was a strong role model and loving father who taught by example the most important life lessons to his two sons, family, friends, students, pilots, teammates, and all who knew him. He will be missed by all of us and never forgotten. He is survived by his loving wife, Susan M. Musick; sons, Charles W. Musick II and Richard M. Musick; his mother, Frances D. Musick; brother, John D. Musick and wife, Peggy, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; sister, Conrad M. Purrington and husband, Philip, of Merry Point, Va.; and mother-in-law, Josephine H. Montgomery of Roanoke, Va. A memorial service will be conducted at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3488 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, Va. 23434, on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 3 p.m. by the Rev. Dan Kerley. A committal service with full military honors will be conducted at Albert G. Horton Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road, Suffolk, Va., 23434, on Monday, April, 19 at 10 a.m. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, Va. 23434, is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 604 Constance Woods Drive, Suffolk, Va. 23434, or to the church. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.