Richard Wayne Killian

Killian, Richard Wayne, 76, died in Richmond on May 5, 2020, after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Wayne was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on November 27, 1943, to loving parents, Paul and Inez (Baggett) Killian, and joined his older brother, Paul Wright Killian, Jr. The two boys went through childhood as “Wright” and “Wrong” to friends, possibly accounting for the great sense of humor that accompanied both throughout their lives.

A UNC Tar Heel through and through, Wayne was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1967 and soon after joined the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He served in Vietnam from 1969 through 1970 as an Ensign and LTJG on river patrol. His service in Vietnam had a profound effect on him, and he forevermore expressed his appreciation for the great sacrifices made by men and women in the United States Armed Forces. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for valor.

His civil service career spanned 30 years with the Department of the Navy, years spent enjoying his work and the people with whom he worked in Northern Virginia and Maryland, playing golf and bridge with friends, snow skiing, traveling, and spending holidays and vacations with family.

Wayne loved sports, especially basketball, football, and golf—all sports he played in high school. He always shared entertaining stories, including having been chauffeured along with other Robert E. Lee High School basketball players to and from away games in a Rolls Royce.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Inez Killian; and his older brother, Wright. He is survived by his sister, Julia Killian; brother, Tom Killian (Pat Deck); sister-in-law, Ila Paul Killian; much-loved nephews, Garrett Killian, Steve Killian (Emily Mabry), Scott Killian (Ashley Bumgarner), Bryan Killian (Hanna Nichols), and Eric Wayne Killian; and precious great-nieces and nephews Macy, Avery, Chase, Chloe, Emily, Ryder, Olin, and Linden.

Wayne was a Christian and will be remembered in a memorial service at Monument Heights Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, once services are allowed to resume. His inurnment, expected to be at Arlington National Cemetery, will be announced when finalized.

Because Wayne loved children and young people, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Parker Killian Gives Moore, which awards college and summer camp scholarships to deserving youth in memory of Parker Killian Moore, a family member.