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In Memory

Richard F Archer Jr - Class Of 1940 VIEW PROFILE

Richard F Archer Jr

 date decesed 2011 Information from Bill Frame 02/18/2021   

       

Richard F. Archer Jr.

Feb. 26, 1922 - Jan. 31, 2011

SAN ANGELO Richard was born on Feb. 26, 1922, in Mishawaka, Ind., to Richard and Edith (Pecher) Archer and died in a local nursing home on Jan. 31, 2011.

He was raised in South Bend, Ind. He was a resident of the Sierra Vista, Ariz., area for over 57 years moving to the Sierra Vista area in May 1959, when he was assigned to Fort Huachuca. In November 2007 he and his wife, Berta, moved to San Angelo where he became active in the Holy Angels Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rita Mary (Dunn); and his youngest daughter, Joan. He is survived by his loving wife Berta (Cortez) of San Angelo, Texas; daughters Catherine of Reno, Nev., Christine (Charles Tipton) of Maryland; sons Richard F. Archer III (Sylvia) and Robert Archer, both of Tucson, Ariz.; stepdaughter Patricia Ann (Adrian Salaiz) of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and eight grandchildren.

He graduated from high school in Jan. 1940. He enlisted in the Army in June 1942. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in Aug. 1943. He fought as a parachute infantryman in Europe through the end of the war. He left the Army in Dec. 1946, as a first lieutenant and worked with his father in the food distributing business, but in May 1947, re?entered the Army. Richard fought as an infantry officer in Korea and had a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1958/59 as a signal advisor to an Army of Vietnam signal unit. He also had overseas tours in the Philippine Islands, Japan and Puerto Rico. He retired from the Army on Dec. 31, 1963, as a major. His decorations include Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Occupation Medal for Ger­many and Japan, Combat Infantry Badge for World War II and Korea, Senior Parachutist Badge with Bronze Star affixed denoting participation in a combat parachute jump. He entered U.S. Civil Service, as a Department of the Army civilian, in June 1964, and retired in June 1986. During that period worked as a contracting officer, a procurement officer and the Director of Procurement at Fort Huachuca and in Worms, Germany.

Richard attended University of Georgia, University of Maryland and University of Arizona. He graduated with an associate of arts degree in business administration from Cochise College in 1970. During his service as a Department of Army civilian, he attended several schools such as basic procurement course, advanced procurement course and personnel management for executive. He was member of the Rotary Club Sierra Vista Sunrise, the Knights of Columbus, the Huachuca Museum Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 82nd Airborne Division Association, the 17th Airborne Division Association, the 504th Parachute Infantry Association, the 507th Parachute Infantry Association and the 24th Infantry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers) Association and the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Association, all units in which he served. He was a Sierra Vista city councilman from March 1987, and mayor from March 1991 through June 1999. Richard was an active member of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church where he served as Eucharistic minister, usher, president of the parish council and chairman of the building committee.

Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in Robert Massie Riverside Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Father Charles Greenwell officiating. Military honors and burial will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home. Richard's obituary and memorial guest book may be viewed online at RobertMassie.com.


Published in GoSanAngelo from February 4 to February 5, 2011.

 

12/18/2021 DEC

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