Richard Gale Sullivan

Richard Gale Sullivan, a longtime resident of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on September 5th, 2023 at the age of 80. Mr. Sullivan was the son of the late Richard Bernard and Margaret Sullivan of Blacksburg, VA.

Richard was born on June 24, 1943, in Christiansburg, Virginia, the oldest of six children. Reared primarily in Montgomery County, Virginia, in the rural community of Prices Fork.

Mr. Sullivan first obtained an Associate Applied Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke in 1967. Richard earned his Bachelor of Arts from University of Maryland after six years of evening classes, then attained his Masters degree from Southeastern University in 1984.

Mr. Sullivan’s military service lasted for three years, including one year in Vietnam, where he achieved an honorable discharge, good conduct medal, and a citation for superior performance of duty as an airplane mechanic.

A long-time employee of the Association of American Railroads, Mr. Sullivan found fulfillment in the challenges and rewards provided by a high profile position in the railroad industry. These years imparted Mr. Sullivan with a depth and breadth of the inner workings of the railroad regulatory process that made him a veritable fount of knowledge.

Mr. Sullivan met his wife of 56 years, Christine, at a Radford College Mother’s Day dance in 1966. Reminiscing on this event, he was fond of saying “I’m still not sure how I was lucky enough to meet Chris. I think the Lord smiles on young boys that don’t know what they are doing.” Married in the spring of 1967, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Hawaii.

Mr. Sullivan was fond of travel, having also visited China, Italy, Korea, Poland, and Vatican City. When he wasn’t tending his garden (and growing massive tomatoes), he would indulge his hobbies of numismatology, collecting railroad ephemera, and square dancing.

Mr. Sullivan was an usher for the Sunday Noon mass at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church for 30 years.

Visitation will take place on Monday, September 18, 2023, from 3pm to 7pm at Murphy Funeral Home, Arlington VA, with a prayer service starting at 4PM. Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 10am at St. James Catholic Church, 905 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046. Internment will follow at 12 noon at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd., Fairfax, VA, 22032.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, and/or the American Diabetes Association.