Richard Alberto Ortega

Richard Alberto Ortega was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba on February 7, 1923. His mother passed away when he was still young, so he and his 2 siblings were cared for by relatives for the remainder of their childhood.

In 1938, at the age of 15, Richard went through the American Embassy in Havana to begin his journey of becoming an American citizen. He traveled alone to New York City where he lived with his aunt and uncle, worked in their restaurant and obtained his American GED. He enlisted in the US Army in 1942. He was one of the men who landed on Omaha Beach in France, on D-Day, June 6,1944. As an infantry man, he made his way through France for 55 days on the front line, suffering a few minor wounds, but eventually received a severe wound that took him to an English hospital where after four months, doctors saved his left leg.

Richard spent the next 27 years serving his country first in the Army, then in the Army Air Corps and finally in the US Air Force. Subsequently, he served in the Korean Conflict and in the Vietnam War. During the years in the military and early retirement, he earned two Bachelor degree and one Masters degree.

In 1950 he met a beautiful, young Southern Belle named Wynelle Woodcock. They fell in love and married January 20, 1951. In their 73 years together, they had 4 children: Naida, Ithie, Eric and Rachel. Sadly, Eric passed away from cancer at the age of 39.

Upon Richard’s retirement, the family moved to Winter Park, Florida in 1970. Richard was a teacher and administrator at Colonial High School for more than 20 years. Even when he retired from that career, he continued to volunteer, serving with several ministries like Daily Bread food distribution; in his church as an Elder; with the local, state and national chapters of the Air Force Association; distributing Meals on Wheels and starting high school ROTC chapters throughout Central Florida.

In the last 20 years, Richard and Wynelle have enjoyed their six grandchildren and (soon to be) eight great grandchildren.