Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at Crestview Memorial Park with Rev. Howard Chapman officiating. Services are under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home.
Dick was born on October 23, 1923 in Raleigh, North Carolina to Dolan Southern and Johnnie Mae Southern. He married Marie Brooks on August 20, 1949 at Lamar Baptist Church in her home town, Wichita Falls. She preceded him in death on August 18, 1996. They had one daughter, Vikki Elizabeth Southern Edmonds. He was also preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Marshall and David Ray Southern.
He was a resident of Raleigh until he entered the Army Air Corps on February 8, 1943. He served 25 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Lt. Col on Sept. 1, 1968. During his military career he served as aircraft support for P-38 and 51 at Wattissham RAF (Feb, 1944); Officer Candidate School at Lackland/Medina AFB, Texas (6/26/1948); Pilot training at Randolph AFB in May, 1949; Duty pilot C-46, C-47 and Flight testing B-25 at Brookley AFB, Mobile Al (May, 1950); he served as a pilot for night intruder bombing over North Korea with the 17th Bomb Wing, 37th Bomb Squardon from Pusan AB, Korea (Feb, 1953); B-29, Radar, Simulated Intrusion and Interceptor Flights from Hill AFB, Utah (Feb., 1954); AFIT program where he earned a MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado (1956-58); during the Vietnam war he worked for I Corps, HQ MAC V at DaNang AB and in Saigon, Vietnam (Oct. 1965); his last duty assignment was at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California (Sept. 1, 1968).
After his military career ended, he worked in human resources and real estate in California before moving to Wichita Fall, Texas. He and Marie chose to retire in Wichita Falls, Texas, Marie's hometown. Dick worked with his brother-in-law, Ken Hanes, after relocating to Wichita Falls.
After his final retirement in 1983, he remained an active participant in the lives of his child, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He enjoyed trips to view Texas wildflowers, reading military history and engaging in vibrant discussions of current events.
He was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who will be greatly missed by those left behind: his daughter, Vikki Edmonds (Ernie) of Wichita Falls; granddaughters: Whitney Stapleton (Wesley) of Waco, Catherine Edmonds of Wichita Falls, and Carissa Samples of San Angelo. Also left to mourn his passing are great grandchildren, Jonathan, Sarah, Aiden, Cameron and Ella; his remaining sibling, Mary Ann Messser of Raleigh, North Carolina; nieces, Carol Dunaway (Phil) and Linda Southern of California; Derelys Batton and Jeanne Johnson of North Carolina as well as nephews, Ron Hamilton of Virgina and Mike Hanes of Colorado and brother-in-law, Ken Hanes of Wichita Falls.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made to the Air Force Aid Society at afas.org.
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