Richard W. Hungerford Sr., DDS Colonel (retired USAF

1930 - 2017

Hungerford, Dr. Richard W. Sr.
April 6, 1930 - February 18. 2017. Dr. Richard W. Hungerford, DDS Colonel (retired USAF) went to meet his maker gently in death as he was in life, of heart failure. He was predeceased by his parents, Ethel and Robert Hungerford; infant son Edward; first wife Barbara Quigley, of 54 years; daughter, Mary Regina (Gina) Short; infant great granddaughter Margaret Mary Stroh; brother in law, Jack Ruzbasen and sister, Jean Sutherland. Survived by wife, Julie Huot; sister, Pat Ruzbasen; son, Richard W Jr.; daughter. Diane Stroh; 3 grandsons; 3 granddaughters; 2 great grand-daughters and 5 great grandsons. All of who he was very proud and loved dearly. 1 step daughter and 2 step grandchildren. Brother in law, George Sutherland and son in law, David Short. Rick was born in New Haven CT and as a young child the family moved to NJ then to West Hartford CT. He was a good student in grade school and attended Loomis Prep for high school. Trinity college in Hartford CT and Dental School in Baltimore Maryland. He met Barbara (Bobbie) in High School and they married August 1, 1953 after his second year of Dental School. At the end of his third year of Dental School he joined the Air Force. He was transferred to Dover Delaware at the end of his 4th year and graduation. He practiced there for 3 years and did his overseas service in Bermuda for another 3 years. He left Bermuda with Bobbie and three children to study didactics and anatomy at Washington University in St. Louis to prepare for his 2 years of internship as an oral surgeon in Great Lakes Naval Hospital , Waukegan, IL. With that under his belt he packed the family in the car and headed to Mather AFB in Sacramento CA. In 1966 he was transferred to Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam where he did surgeries on many wounded soldiers and medcaps helping the local population. He was assigned to Scott AFB in Belleville, IL in 1967 till 1970 When he left the military and went to teach at Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska and had a part time private practice . He taught oral surgery to senior dental students and practiced his craft in many of Omaha's' hospitals. He stayed in the reserves and practiced in Offutt AFB till 1978. 1984 he had an epiphany and decided to quit work and enjoy life to the fullest while his health was good and early retirement with no regrets. His time teaching at Creighton was very rewarding. and he often said "Hope I did enough pro bono cases." Bobbie passed away in 2007, Rick went on a Christmas cruise and met Julie they were married 7 months later. After many cruises they moved to Sun City AZ to be closer to amenities and medical services. Many thanks to Infinity Hospice for all their care and help Keeping with Rick's wishes he will be cremated and interred in the Columbarium in Rio Verde with Bobbie and Gina at a later date. Donations may be given in Rick's name to the charities of ones choice. Mass of Christian Burial with Military Honors will be held at St. Clements of Rome; 15800 N Del Webb Blvd, Sun City AZ on March 6th 2017 at 10.00 AM.