Obituary for Richard Allyn Oliver
Richard A. Oliver died Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at his residence in the Watermark Assisted Living Facility in Winter Springs, Florida. Born in Eau Claire Wisconsin on November 10, 1933 to Marion and Allyn (Plum) Oliver, Dick was the oldest of three siblings, including brother John Oliver and sister Sallie Adams. Dick enlisted in the United States Navy following graduation from high school in 1951. After graduating from boot camp, he married his high school sweetheart, Deloris Olson, also of Eau Claire in 1952. During his Navy career, Dick performed admirably as an avionics technician on both P-3 Orion patrol aircraft and the H-3 Sea King helicopter. Following his retirement in 1973 out of Naval Air Station Quonset Point Rhode Island as a Chief Petty Officer, Dick, Deloris and their daughter Robin moved to Fruit Cove, Florida, just south of Jacksonville. Assigned to Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment 1068, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, he used his avionics expertise to continue serving his country as a civilian instructor, teaching active duty sailors the finer points of aviation avionics equipment operation and maintenance. After 24 years of superior performance as an instructor, Dick retired for good in 1998.
An avid fisherman, Dick prowled the inland lakes and waterways of Florida, always in search of the prized catch. When asked about his day’s success, he’d respond with his well known smile and remark, “some days there’s fishin’ and some days there’s catchin’.” Following Deloris’ death in 1998, Dick participated in the RCIA program at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church and converted to Catholicism with the help of his sponsor and dear friend Ed Hamel. Dick became reacquainted with and spent several years of pleasant company with Chris Spencer, also of Fruit Cove, until her passing in 2012.
In 2016, Dick’s younger sister Sallie moved to Fruit Cove to live with Dick to help him with the ever increasing challenges of daily living. In June of 2018 as those challenges became too great, Dick moved to Winter Springs so he could be much closer to Robin and Son-in-Law Kenny Scholz. On the morning of April 23rd, Dick reported to his final duty station. Our Heavenly Father and Commanding Officer called him home after 85 years of service as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend and shipmate, and beloved son and brother. Robin was a devoted and loving daughter and though saddened by his new orders, she enjoyed wonderful daughter/dad time with him right up to the day of his departure. He is at peace now and for that we are grateful. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 11 o’clock in the morning at St. Stephen Catholic Community, 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, Florida 32708. Instead of flowers, Robin suggests that anyone who would like to make a donation, do so to the St. Stephen Outreach Program in Dick Oliver’s memory, mailed to the church address above. A reception will be held after the service.
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An avid fisherman, Dick prowled the inland lakes and waterways of Florida, always in search of the prized catch. When asked about his day’s success, he’d respond with his well known smile and remark, “some days there’s fishin’ and some days there’s catchin’.” Following Deloris’ death in 1998, Dick participated in the RCIA program at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church and converted to Catholicism with the help of his sponsor and dear friend Ed Hamel. Dick became reacquainted with and spent several years of pleasant company with Chris Spencer, also of Fruit Cove, until her passing in 2012.
In 2016, Dick’s younger sister Sallie moved to Fruit Cove to live with Dick to help him with the ever increasing challenges of daily living. In June of 2018 as those challenges became too great, Dick moved to Winter Springs so he could be much closer to Robin and Son-in-Law Kenny Scholz. On the morning of April 23rd, Dick reported to his final duty station. Our Heavenly Father and Commanding Officer called him home after 85 years of service as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend and shipmate, and beloved son and brother. Robin was a devoted and loving daughter and though saddened by his new orders, she enjoyed wonderful daughter/dad time with him right up to the day of his departure. He is at peace now and for that we are grateful. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 11 o’clock in the morning at St. Stephen Catholic Community, 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, Florida 32708. Instead of flowers, Robin suggests that anyone who would like to make a donation, do so to the St. Stephen Outreach Program in Dick Oliver’s memory, mailed to the church address above. A reception will be held after the service.
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