Richard John Whitfield

WHITFIELD Richard John Whitfield passed away on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the age of 88. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Mary Louise Pike, his three sons, Steve husband of Judy Miller (Baton Rouge), Mark husband of Cindy Guarino (Destrehan), and Ricky husband of Ellen Franck (Metairie). He is also survived by his brothers Hilman (Lake Charles), Elward (Metairie), Burton (Houma), nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Cullen Charles and Marie Lemoine Whitfield, his brother Herbert, and sister Rita Firmin. Richard graduated from St. Joseph in Plaucheville, LA, was a World War II veteran as a member of the Air Force. A machinist by trade, he supported Avondale in the building of ships. He resided in Metairie for 51 years and later in Destrehan where he spent the last 5 years. Richard died at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve, LA. He was a parishioner of St. Benilde Church in Metairie, LA where he served as an Usher and a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the American Legion Post# 366. He will be missed by all that knew him. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation beginning at 10:00am to be followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:00pm in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Interment in Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity or masses. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.