Richard John Erickson

June 21, 1943 – September 11, 2014

ERICKSON, Richard John, 71, Colonel, United States Air Force (retired), of

Montgomery, Alabama, went to join his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on

September 11, 2014. The Celebration of Life will be conducted at 11:00

a.m., Friday, September 19, at Leak-Memory Chapel, with visitations from

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, and from 10:00 a.m. to

11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19. Interment will be at Alabama National

Cemetery, Montevallo, Alabama, at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, September 19.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore John Erickson and

Helen Anita Whisenant. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Joan

Kathryn Erickson, his daughter Karen (Crispin Philip) Michael, his

grandchildren Richard Daniel, Kathryn Anne, and Esther Elizabeth; his

sisters, Joyce (Stanley) Haggerty and their grandson, Michael; Elaine Love

and her husband Paul Amici and their sons Jonathan Love and Robert Love;

his brother-in-law, Dean (Shelley) Harmony and their children Alexandra and

Zachery. Richard graduated from Florida State University and earned a Juris

Doctor degree from The University of Michigan School of Law, a Master’s of

Law degree from Georgetown University, and a Ph.D in Foreign Affairs from

The University of Virginia. He enjoyed a distinguished career in the United

States Air Force from 1971 to 1993, culminating in his assignment to the

Office of the Secretary of Defense. Upon his retirement from active duty, he

accepted a position as Senior Attorney-Advisor in The Office of The Judge

Advocate General, Headquarters United States Air Force. Among his many

awards and decorations were the Department of Defense Superior Service

Medal, the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air

Force Legion of Merit. After retiring to Montgomery in 2001, Richard

continued his life of service in numerous organizations. He was active in the

American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Military Officers

Association (MOAA). More recently he enjoyed his role serving on the

National Board of the MOAA and the Alumni Board of Directors of Florida

State University. As a history buff he found great joy in being a member of

both the Sons of the American Revolution and The Old South Historical

Society. And finally, being a man of faith Richard was a devoted member of

Centerpoint Fellowship Church in Montgomery and was a Bible distributor

for Gideons International.