Obituary of Richard Harold Dunwoody

Brigadier General Richard H. Dunwoody passed away on December 24th, 2009 after a long battle with bone cancer. General Dunwoody lived in Melbourne, Florida for the past three years with his wife Barbara and dog, Oliver. General Dunwoody was born in Bronx, New York on August 5, 1932, and led a successful 30-year career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Dick, as he was known by his friends, was a jet pilot who flew F-86s, F-89s, F-94s, F-100s, F-102s, F-106s, A-1 Skyraiders, AC-130 Gunships and F-15 Eagles. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. General Dunwoody served in Vietnam from 1970-1972 as flight commander of the "Sandy" skyraider combat sorties. General Dunwoody retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1983 and worked in the private sector for seventeen years: five with McDonnell Douglas and twelve with Dyncorp. General Dunwoody is survived by his loving wife of nineteen years, Barbara and five children: Richard Dunwoody, Robin McMahon, Jill Hazen, Lisa Baldizzi and Nancy Fletcher; sisters, Carol Sullivan and Gail Rigolini. He has six grandchildren and one great grandchild: Nicholas, Sarah, Richard, Joseph, Jason and Marina. The Funeral Mass for General Dunwoody will be held at the Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne, Florida on December 29th at 11am. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, February 18, 2010 with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the America Cancer Society in General Dunwoodys' name.