Richard R. Ruddy

Major, USAF Retired

Richard "Dick" Ruddy passed away on February 11, 2021, at the age of 94 after a brief illness. Dick will be remembered as many things: a decorated serviceman and world-class pilot, a loving husband of 70 years, a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a vivid storyteller who brought his many adventures to life for all those blessed to hear him tell his stories. His incredible recall of names, dates and the smallest detail persisted to his last moments.

Dick was born on November 13, 1926, in Buffalo, New York, to Col. Walter J. and Clara (Meyers) Ruddy. He and his brother Robert traversed the United States with their father's military unit, from Fort Drum, New York to Pacific Grove, California and back, before helping to build the family home on Colvin Boulevard in Kenmore, New York in 1947.

Inspired by his father's service, Dick served honorably as a teenage soldier in the Army Air Force during WWII. He was discharged in November 1945 and returned to active duty in January 1950 as an Aviation Cadet. Before returning to active duty, he attended the Univ. of Buffalo where he met his true love Sally (Sutherland), whom he lovingly referred to as "My Gal Sal". Dick and Sally were married on December 27, 1950, before Dick whisked her to Enid, Oklahoma, where on February 10, 1951, he graduated as a member of class 51-A from Vance AFB, as a bomber Pilot.

Although he spent many months away from his beloved Sally and their growing family, Dick served his country honorably as a member of the Air Force for the next twenty years, retiring from active duty as a Major on June 30, 1970. During that time, he flew 168 combat missions as a bomber pilot in B-29s and B-52s. He also flew the B-47 for 10 years as a member of the 40th Bomb Wing during the Cold War. Dick's talent and experience in the cockpit saved many an aircraft and countless lives. In recognition of his outstanding service during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, Dick was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the Air Force's highest honors, awarded for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight, eight Air Medals, two Combat Crew Medals and many more medals and decorations. Some of his remarkable stories are recorded for posterity as part of the Veteran's History Project in the Library of Congress.

After retirement from the USAF, at 44 years old, with four kids at home, Dick went back to school at Solano Community College to study accounting, before embarking on a second career with the Federal Civil Service and the U.S. Treasury Dept. for 13 more years.

In 1980, Dick and Sally settled in Leisure Town, Vacaville, CA where they remained an active part of the community for the past 40 years. Dick belonged to the Military Officers Assn. and Daedalians, a fellowship of military aviators, including serving as Vice Flight Captain for two years. He served on the Solano County Land Use Commission and the Solano County Airport Advisory Board. He was also a member of the Leisure Town Homeowners Association Board of Directors and served as president and treasurer of the Leisure Town Lawn Bowling Club for nine years.

Dick enjoyed a lifelong passion for airplanes. As a teenager, he worked at a local airfield pushing the planes out onto the runway. He was one of the lucky few whose passion became a vocation in the Air Force, and even after retiring, he owned two different Cessna 210 Civil Aviation aircraft, which he flew and instructed out of Napa Airport for over a decade, including, all the way to his son Mark's wedding in New Hampshire in 1978. He was also an avid tennis player, lawn bowler, bridge and cribbage player. His talent for lawn bowling led him to be invited to bowl at the US Open in 2009, and he could often be seen on the lawn bowling green with a signature feather in his cap. He was a regular staple at Sally's ladies duplicate bridge game, and shared many games of cribbage with Sally and his family.

More than anything else, in retirement, Dick enjoyed spending time with Sally, making up for all the time they spent apart when he was in the military. They traveled the world together, making plenty of new friends on their Grand Circle tours, RV trips all across the U.S. and Canada, and annual trips to Hawaii. He also loved sharing time with his family, where he and Sally spent countless holidays and vacations with their children and grandchildren, to whom Dick became affectionately known as "Boompa." Together they hosted family reunions on a houseboat on Lake Shasta, a dude ranch in Durango, CO, a Caribbean Cruise, and countless other beloved family get togethers.

Dick leaves behind his beloved wife Sally of 70 years, four children: Mark (Donna), Michael, Michelle, and Martin, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by all of them, and the countless others whose lives he touched.

A memorial Service will be held at the Sacramento Valley Veterans Cemetery at a later date.