Richard James Dietz

A devout Roman Catholic, Mr. Dietz embodied Christian virtue as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was close to all the generations. He was a Renaissance man whose patient instruction and wise counsel was sought and appreciated by many.

Mr. Dietz, a native of New Ulm, MN, entered the Army Air Corps immediately after high school, with WWII ending before he saw action. He attended college in Santa Barbara, CA, where he met his wife of 52 years. He worked his way through U.C.S.B. as a railroad switchman, and went on to teach high school industrial arts, perform program management in aerospace, ran hydroponic greenhouses, managed jewelry stores after qualifying as a gemologist, and in later years, did real estate appraisals. Every new endeavor was met with thorough study and application, resulting in new friends thinking that he had degrees in each field. He was well-read, well-informed, and assisted the FBI and California police in investigating and exposing Communist cell networks in the 1960s.

He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn, of Stafford, a brother, John Dietz and a sister, Dorothy Meyer, both of California, eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Loretta Marilley Dietz, and a son, James Dietz, as well as two brothers and two sisters. He was a wonderful example of what it means to be a Christian gentleman, was greatly loved, and will be sorely missed.

The family will receive friends on Monday, June 12, from 6-8 pm at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service in Stafford. A requiem Mass will be offered on Tuesday, June 13 at 10:30 am, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Richmond, VA, and interment will be in Quantico National Cemetery Thursday, June 15 at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Lepanto Institute at www.LepantoInstitute.org/donate

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mullinsthompsonstafford.com