Richard Essington Shields, Sr.

Please Click here to view the services for Mr. Richard Shields, Sr. on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 12pm.

Richard Essington Shields, Sr., born in 1937 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Ola Mae Campbell and William Mills, graduated from Altoona High School in 1956 before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army Military Police from 1961 to 1963, attending Weapons Training School at Fort Hood, Texas, and carried the discipline and courage of his service into civilian life. Richard began working at the U.S. Post Office in 1964, later becoming a long-distance truck driver. In 1969, he founded Shields Security Service, later RESCO Security, serving government contracts, retail, churches, and senior facilities. He also trained law enforcement officers for the Federal Protective Service from 1971 to 1979, studying Traffic Accident Enforcement at the University of Maryland, before retiring from government service in 1981 to lead his company full-time. In 1980, Richard married Myrna Keene, his devoted partner for 45 years, building a loving home for family and friends. A proud Pittsburgh Steelers fan and avid bowler, he was known for his charisma, humor, and generosity, cherishing his roles as husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his wife Myrna, children Kimberly Andrea Thompson, Rodney Erick Shields, Richard Essington Shields Jr. (Katie), Bryan Elberto Shields (Kandice), special daughters Kyomi Allen and Nilaja Ford, grandchildren Amari Shields, Kiauj Allen, Maximus Shields, and Cameron Shields, as well as extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, several siblings, and other close family members.