Richard Means
July 8, 1927 — December 4, 2012
Richard O. Means, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Master Navigator, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at his home in Scenic Hills Community, in Schertz, TX, at the age of 85. For service information, and to sign guestbook, please go to www.schertzfuneralhome.com. Born in Lebanon, TN, on July 8, 1927, Means was an infantryman in the closing days of World War II, and was commissioned in the Air Force after his graduation from Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 1953. He earned his wings as a navigator-bombardier. After service aboard tanker aircraft, he flew B-52 combat missions from Guam and aboard AC-130 gunships in the Vietnam Theater. He was awarded 8 Distinguished Flying Crosses and numerous Air Medals for his Southeast Asia service. Following his military retirement in 1975, he earned a law degree from Gonzaga University, in Spokane, WA, and practiced law in that area for several years before relocating to Annapolis, MD, where he taught remedial mathematics to freshman students at Anna Arundel Community College. Richard was also a sailing instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. After moving to San Antonio in 1996, he continued teaching math at the University of Texas in San Antonio, retiring from there eight years later. Richard was married to Judy Anderson of Corsicana, TX, and was the twin brother of John Means, a retired copy editor at the Washington Post and the San Antonio Express News, who lives with his wife Barbara, in Cibolo, TX. Other survivors include five sons, Michael and his wife Debbie, Rob and his wife Setsuko, Bruce and his wife Patti, Sean and his wife Leslie, and Jim; daughter, Karalee Means; older brother, Clement P. Means and his wife Charlene; three stepchildren, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and two great-grandchildren. Graveside Service will be held on Monday, December 10, 2012, at 11:00AM, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, with full United States Air Force Honors. A memorial reception will follow at the Lodge of Scenic Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 12672 Silicon Drive, Suite 105, San Antonio, Texas, 78249.
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