Richard Lytle Feeney US Army

Richard was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Naval Officer and a mother with a college
degree. When his father was assigned to the Fleet in San Diego, the family established a
home in nearby El Cajon/La Mesa. They temporarily relocated several times for
assignments.
Soon after his birth, the family was assigned to China, and Richard learned to use chopsticks
as a toddler. At the age of 10, Richard vividly recalled playing outside with his brother Bob,
watching the Japanese planes flying low to bomb Pearl Harbor.
Richard first met Shirley in second grade in La Mesa. Fortune had them meet again in high
school. They married in 1952 and enjoyed an adventurous marriage of 66 years until Shirley
passed in 2018.
Richard started young, as a reliable altar boy at the early service of the local Episcopal
church. A devoted Christian, Richard later served in various churches over the years,
sometimes as a lay reader or an elder. His faith in Christ Jesus was of upmost importance to
him including praying daily for his entire family. Together, he and Shirley formed deep
friendships through Bible studies and church activities, wherever they lived.

Richard graduated from Grossmont High School (El Cajon) and was accepted to the U.S. Naval
Academy. After an unfortunate boxing injury, Richard received a medical discharge from the
U.S. Navy. He then attended the University of Idaho, earning a bachelor's degree in Forestry
and a rare, coveted Regular Army Commission based on his achievements in Army ROTC. He
had participated in timber surveys to earn money for college and fell in love with the
mountains and forests of the Northwest. He and Shirley took a memorable backpacking trip
early in their marriage in these same mountains.
Richard entered the Army in 1956 and completed rigorous Ranger training in the swamps of
Florida. His service included two tours in Germany along the East-West German border and
a tour in Vietnam as a liaison to the Republic of Korea Army. At Fort Leavenworth, he earned
a military degree with a thesis on Middle Eastern tank warfare. At the Pentagon, he made
presentations to Congressional Committees on the Army budget. In Richard's final field
assignment, he served as Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment,
2nd Armored Division, at Fort Hood, Texas. Notably, Richard contributed to the development
of the M1 tank in Warren, Michigan, a vehicle that has dominated battlefields worldwide.
After retiring in 1978, Richard frequently and proudly wore a 2nd Armored Division baseball
cap. When people stopped him to trade stories and thanked him for his service, Richard
responded, "I would do it again in a heartbeat."
The family's love for boating began in the 1970s in Texas with a small boat on Belton Lake.
Once in Michigan, they graduated to larger boats to explore Lake St. Clair. Richard was
particularly fond of the last boat, a 28-footer with a fly bridge that could sleep six.
Post-military, Richard worked for Ford and a couple of defense contractors. At one, Richard
experienced attempted theft of highly-restricted camera technology by a military ally.
Richard was surprised and Shirley was even more shocked since they had entertained the
delegation for dinner in their home.
Richard and Shirley eventually retired to the Tehachapi Mountains, about two hours north
of Los Angeles. There, he and Shirley spent 11 wonderful years, warmly welcoming friends
and family for visits. They later moved to Texas to be closer to their grandchildren,
maintaining their youthful spirit.
Following Shirley's death in 2018, Richard found love again and married Pegge Moore, who
had also been widowed. They enjoyed three happy years together before Pegge passed, filled
with companionship and plenty of Pegge's delicious cookies!
The Family of Richard and Shirley (McWillie) Feeney
- Cynthia "Cindy" (Feeney) and Brian Wilcox
Darcy (Wilcox) and Lorenzo "Trey" Wilborn
Breck, Cooper and Arlo Wilborn
Bonnie Wilcox
- Mark and Wendy (Irwin) Feeney
Erik and Portia (Thomason) Feeney
Evrett Feeney
Preston Feeney (with Jesus)
Kyle Feeney and Alix Boster
Quin Feeney
Tatiana Feeney
Jayce Falgiani
Kristina (Feeney) and Kolby McLeod
Ryker McLeod
Zackary "Zack" Irwin
Elizabeth "Liz" Irwin
Sophia Irwin
- Matthew and Vicki (Rodriguez) Feeney
Alexander Feeney
Cole Rodriguez
Seth Rodriguez
If you wish, please make a donation to:
PTSD Foundation
https://ptsdusa.org/our-tributes/ then scroll down to IN MEMORY or
Samaritan's Purse in honor of Richard L. Feeney
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/richard-l-feeney-san-antonio-tx/