Richard Lee Hodgkinson

BEDFORD - Richard Lee Hodgkinson, who died Jan. 22, 2017, was born on Feb. 18, 1939, and raised in Providence, R.I. After high school, he enlisted for 1½ years and then was selected to attend the Air Force Academy and graduated from there in 1962. While attending the Academy, through his mother, he met his future wife, Karen Olson. They were married in 1964. After graduation, he attended flight school in Arizona and was then assigned to flight status. His planes were the B-47, F-4, and FB-111.

His 23-year career with the Air Force brought him to such locations as Enid, Okla. (where his two kids, Pam and Wayne, were born); Williams Air Force Base, Ariz. (where he was Base Commander); Colorado Springs, Colo.; the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Brussels, Belgium. He also served his country in battle in Vietnam and was a member of a think tank at MIT.

After retiring from the Air Force, he served as the Town Manager in Londonderry for four years. After that, he was the President of Greater Manchester Development Corporation for another four years. He still wasn't ready to fully retire, but instead achieved his MBA from Southern NH University and then went on to teach MBA classes for them in such places as Dubai and Athens, Greece.

Even after retiring, he continued to do pro bono work with CASA and on a board for Executive Service Corp. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling, singing in his church choir and a four-man choral group, being an active member of his church, Bethany Covenant, golfing and spending time with his family and friends.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Karen; his daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Michael Higgins; his son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Melissa Hodgkinson; and his two grandsons, Alex and Zack Hodgkinson.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the care Richard received from the Manchester VNA Hospice. They would also like to thank their friends for their help and prayers during Richard's illness.
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SERVICES: There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Celebration will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way, Route 101, Bedford, NH, 03110. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215; or to Bethany Covenant Church. Please visit www.goodwinfh.com to sign the online guestbook.