Richard D. Eichner

Richard D. Eichner, 89, of Rimwood Drive in Smithfield, passed away on Wednesday March 6th in the Heritage Hills Nursing Home, Smithfield. He was the husband of Sandra E. (Obartuck) Eichner. They had been married for 34 years.
Born in Davenport, IA, a son of the late Vernon and Helen Eichner. He had lived in Smithfield for 22 years previously living in Walpole. He was an US Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Richard had graduated from St. Ambrose College with a BA in Business and Liberal Arts, graduated from University of Iowa with a BSEE and MSEE Studies and received his MBA from the University of Hartford. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Potowomut Country Club in East Greenwich.
Richard was an Engineer for Northrop Development before retiring. His field of specialties were Aerospace and Project Development, and Electronic Inertial Systems. He spoke German. He was the recipient of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo Achievement Award. He received this in appreciation of dedicated service to the nation as a member of the team which had advanced the nation's capabilities in the aeronautics and space and demonstrated them in many outstanding accomplishments culminating in Apollo 11's successful achievements of man's first landing on the moon, July 20, 1969.
Besides his wife he leaves his daughter, Lynne Eichner of Eugene, OR. He was the brother of Dorothy Hopper and her husband Charles of Davenport, IA. He also leaves many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Patricia Prescott. He also leaves his close friends, Robert and Sandra DiChiaro. He leaves his two feline companions, Ralph and Bella.
A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday March 19th at 11:30am in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Burial with Military Honors will be in the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, RI. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908.