Richard Scheffler Winter

WINTER, RICHARD SCHEFFLER

Richard Winter of McLean, VA was a warm, charitable and loved member of the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC communities since 1958. He and his loving wife, Carolyn, have served their family, dear friends and fellow citizens selflessly and tirelessly throughout the years. On November 21, 2001, Richard was received in perfect love and realized his hope and future beyond this world in Christ.

On May 7, 1923, Richard Scheffler Winter was born of Margaret and Paul Winter in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of eight children. With the advent of the great depression, the family moved extensively but eventually returned to Wilkes Barre. They settled in Shavertown and Richard gained work at the American Car and Foundtry Company as a "steel chaser" in an armor-plate factory. His work there lasted about a year until it was interrupted by America's entrance into World War II.

Richard volunteered his service with the Army Air Corps and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Fifteenth Air Force. He was appointed a lead navigator and fought with the 459th Bomb Group, 758th Bomb Squadron, based in Italy for the period September 1944 until May 1945. Richard flew 35 combat missions leading B-24 Liberators as a First Lieutenant. After the liberation of Europe he requested combat service in the Pacific but the war soon ended.

He eventually earned a Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. "Being a Lead Navigator in the Army Air Corps during World War II helped me realize that you had to work hard to get anything out of life," he once said. "This is exactly what I had to do to achieve my wings and bars."

Richard's meritorious honors did not end with the United States. He went on to receive the Gold Medal of Honor and Merit, La Renaissance Franchise, from the French government. Other French honors included the Medaille de Vermeil, Merite Civique, the Gold Medal. Le Merite National Francais, the Medaille de Vermeil, ARTS, SCIENCES LETTERS, L'Academie Francais, the Order du Merite Francais d'outre Mer and a membership with the Honor Club Des Intellectuals Francais. Other honors included the Knight of Justice, Sovereign Order St. John of Jerusalem, the Military Order of St. Brigida of Sweden and the Knight of Justice Military Order of St. Agathae or Patermo.

Returning home after the war, Richard earned a degree in commerce from Drexel University. He then settled in Pittsburgh and became general manager of a firearms company, Flaig's Hunters Lodge, for nine years. In 1958, Richard moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and began work with the International Armament Corporation (Interarms). He went on to serve as Executive Vice President and North American CEO until his retirement in 1998 at the age of 75. Service with Interarms involved him extensively with Congress, the Defense Intelligence Agency and College, the Defense Nuclear Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of the Treasury Criminal Investigation branch. Richard also served as President, Board of Directors, of Colonial Enterprises, Inc.

Among the numerous governmental contributions of Richard's life were many personal and civil contributions. Whether church councils or charitaries, freedom causes or political campaigns, military organizations or medical associations, historical foundations or educational committees, Richard's iron integrity and lifelong duty compelled him to contribute no less. His genuineness and kindness affected all who had the privilege of knowing him. Whether family, dear friends or colleagues, President, Representatives or Judges, Serviceman, doctors or professors, the countless individuals he touched around the globe in the course of his colorful life all felt his enduring example.

"My family gave me the wisdom to select the answers to each day's challenges," Richard once remarked, "and as long as you strive and work for a worthy objective, that's what gets your feet moving every day and makes your life zestful." That wisdom was certainly passed down to his family and is alive and well. Mission accomplished our good friend. You're living higher now.

A family and friends Memorial gathering will be held at THE EVERLY-WHEATLEY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA on Saturday, November 24 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Another Memorial gathering will he held at the Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania on Monday, November 26, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The funeral will be held at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Shavertown, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November 27 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Alexandria Kiwanis Club Foundation, 6520 Manet Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22191; or the Kiwanianne Club of Alexandria, 5903 Mount Eagle Dr., #1416, Alexandria, VA 22303.