Richard J. Scheuer, or RG and the Happy Controller as he was known to many, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2013, of a heart attack in Houston, Texas. Memorial Services to be held on Saturday, November 23, 2013, at 11am at Forest Park Westheimer.
He was born in Flushing, New York on November 10, 1950 and grew up there until his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated from North Fulton High School. He joined the United State Marine Corps in 1971 where he trained to become an air traffic controller (ATC). As a Marine he lived overseas in Japan as an air traffic controller trainer.
After an honorable discharge from the Corps in 1977, Richard moved to Florida where he continued his air traffic control training at Embry-Riddle and from there he took a job that landed him over in Saudi Arabia. When he returned to the states, he joined the FAA in 1981 that took him to Memphis, Tennessee and then to Houston, Texas in 1982.
His love for his job as an ATC led to the name Mr. Happy. If you ask any pilot who flew into or around Houston’s Intercontinental Airport (IAH), they will all tell you how nice and cheery he was to talk to, no matter what the situation – whether it was slow and midnight or traffic jam at 5pm – he had the same sense of humor. Holly, his wife, always told him that the jokes were really bad and they were a captive audience, since he controlled their take-offs and landings, so of course they laughed! Richard retired in November of 2007 from the FAA after 30+ years of combined military and government service. He continued working at IAH, but now as a contractor training new controllers, up until the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Holly Prell Scheuer, who he married in 2006; his son, Jason C. Scheuer; grandson, Skyler; and his sister, Patti Silverman.
In lieu of the customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Marine’s Toys for Tots at the service with either a toy or check (payable to Toys for Tots) or via their website … http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/tribute-donation.asp . Donations may also be made to the Houston Food Bank via http://houstonfoodbank.org/donate/tribute-giving/
From Holly – Special thank you to ALL his friends from work, but especially Tina, without whom I would have struggled immensely in putting together the memorial that honors Richard.
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