Richard Lovell Blaisdell

1925 - 2015

Richard Lovell Blaisdell died at home Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at South Hills Christian Church, 3200 Bilglade Road, Fort Worth. Memorials: May be made to South Hills Christian Church; Smile Train, Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231; or First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80903. Dick was born June 1, 1925, in Brewer, Maine. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was married to Hazel Carr Blaisdell, the love of his life, for over 60 years. Dick was a World War II veteran, having been the central fire control gunner of a B-29 crew that completed 35 missions over Japan. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and several other citations. He was a member of the Air Force acceptance crew for the B-36 program at Consolidated Vultee from 1948 to 1954. Dick graduated from TCU in 1965 and was employed by Howell Instruments from 1954 to 1989. He was a member for many decades of South Hills Christian Church in Fort Worth, where he served as board chair, deacon and property manager, among other roles. He had been a volunteer tutor to elementary school students and coached Little League and Pony League in the 1960s and 1970s. He enjoyed sports, was a longtime supporter of TCU athletics and, in his younger days, played ice hockey and was a speed skater. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel; and his brothers, Charlie, Frank and Gene. Survivors: His sons, Chuck (Barbara), Jim (Linda) and Greg (Melissa); adoptive son, Bob Hill (Priscilla Reckling); sister, Helen Caldwell (Gordon); seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.