Richard Leigh Dennis

Richard Dennis, 95, of Nashua, NH, died on February 12, 2026, at The Huntington in Nashua. He was born in Topeka, Kansas, on March 7, 1930, the son of the late Conrad L. Dennis and Agnes M. (Bunger) Dennis.

Richard proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps as a Private First Class from 1948 to 1950 before receiving a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He went on to serve a distinguished military career in the USMC, retiring in 1979 with the rank of Colonel (O-6). During his service, he served as Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Systems Test and as Executive Officer of the 3rd Marine Air Wing. Following his military retirement, he worked at Lincoln Laboratory at MIT as an Aircraft Fleet Manager, where he remained until 1995.

Richard was a devoted Catholic and a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Nashua. He was active in several professional and military organizations, including the US Naval Academy Alumni Association, the Marine Corps Association and Aviation Association, and The Retired Officers' Association (TROA).

He had a lifelong love of sailing and flying and found great joy on the water and in the air.

In addition to his parents, Richard was predeceased by his daughter, Judith Anne Hertzler.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn Dennis; his son, Richard Leigh Dennis Jr. and his wife Jodi; his grandchildren, Richard Leigh Dennis II and Kellye Austin; three great-grandchildren; his daughter, Jane Dennis Sansum and her husband Neil Sansum; his step-grandchildren, Laura and Ralph Sansum; and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Hertzler.

SERVICES: Richard will be interred at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock Street, Nashua, NH. An online guestbook is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com or by calling (603) 883-3401.

"ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER."

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard can be mad to Homes for Troops https://www.hfotusa.org/.