Richard Wayne Dyer

Born on May 8, 1930 in Rupert, Idaho, Wayne was the son of the late Tom and Irene Dyer. He spent most of his childhood in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, alongside his brothers, Jack (deceased) and Earl Dyer. From early on, Wayne spent hours exploring and working in his dad’s blacksmith shop, igniting an interest in mechanical design and building that would span his lifetime. As a young boy, he rode a motorbike he made by adding an old washing machine motor to his bike. As a young man, he cruised the local lakes in his hand-built plywood cabin cruiser. Later he constructed a 2-story cabin in the woods of East Texas and drew up all of the construction plans for a house he had built in Terramar Beach on Galveston Island. Over the years he designed and made numerous pieces of furniture to fill the Dyer homes.

After high school, Wayne answered the call of duty and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, serving on destroyers operating off the coast of Korea. He returned to Prairie Grove and enrolled at the University of Arkansas where he would earn his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

In 1954, Wayne married the love of his life, Treva Turner, and the two embarked on a journey of love and companionship that spanned almost seven decades. Wayne and Treva left Prairie Grove when he began his engineering career dedicating his expertise to the development and operation of B-58 bombers at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, and Tinker Air Force Base near Norman, Oklahoma. In 1964 Wayne joined NASA and moved the family to Pasadena, Texas where he began working at the Manned Spacecraft Center. Upon his retirement from the civil service he worked another 20 years as a contractor finally retiring for good at the age of 80! During his long career he worked in the Engineering Directorate, the Center Operations Directorate and supported the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate. He was involved with the Gemini Program, Apollo Program, International Space Station Program, and the WB-57 High Altitude Research Program receiving numerous commendations along the way.

Wayne and Treva built their life around their three children and six grandchildren enjoying family trips back to Arkansas, camping around Texas and the western U.S., and numerous Caribbean cruises. Their beach home and woodland cabin provided many fond family memories.

Wayne leaves behind a loving legacy, survived by his devoted wife, Treva Dyer, their children: son David (wife Darlene) Dyer, grandson Nathan; son Keith (wife Diana) Dyer, granddaughter Sierra (husband Chad) Cagle, granddaughter Sheriden (husband John) Pennella, grandson Cameron (wife Abbie) Dyer; daughter Linda Newlin, grandson Max (wife Jessica) Newlin, and granddaughter Erin (husband Hugo) Amaro; and great grandchildren Turner Cagle, Teddy Cagle, Emma Amaro, Evan Amaro, Josie Newlin, and Aurelia Dyer.

Wayne will be dearly missed but remembered for his gentle and caring nature and his passion for exploration and knowledge. His legacy of love, kindness, and dedication will live on in the hearts of those he left behind. There will be a celebration of his life at Pasadena Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 27, at 2 p.m.