Richard E. Cherry Jr

Richard E. Cherry Jr (Dick to many friends) died at a hospice facility in Merritt Island, FL on February 22, 2015 from heart related illnesses at the age of 82. Born to Richard E. Cherry Sr and Fannie Moore Cherry on July 28, 1932 in Albany, GA, Dick attended Georgia Tech for one year before entering the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, graduating in 1954. While there he met and, upon graduation, married the former Carolyn Lewis of Towson, MD. Dick accepted a commission in the newly formed U.S. Air Force and attended training in Texas to become a fighter pilot. He served in multiple fighter squadrons and flew F86 Sabre and later F4 Phantom aircraft highlighted by two tours in Vietnam where he flew 86 combat missions in support of the war. In between assignments, he attended M.I.T. where he received a master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Later in his career, Dick became involved in the Air Force space program where he served at the east (Patrick AFB) and west (Vandenberg AFB) missile ranges. In 1979, Dick retired from the Air Force at the rank of Colonel after 25 years of faithful service to our nation. After retirement, Dick worked for many years at Kennedy Space Center for Aerospace Corporation and was involved in the successful launch of five MILSTAR communication satellites still in operation today. He was an avid golfer who loved the game of golf. He maintained a single digit handicap most of his life, and scored five hole-in-ones during his remarkable golf career. The above accomplishments are what he did during his career, but his real passion was who he was in Christ Jesus. Dick became a born again Christian and a new creation in 1962, and he dedicated the rest of his life to serving our Lord and Savior. He was involved and served in many churches along the way, and made sure his wife Carolyn and his three sons Richard III, Timothy and Lewis were raised in a Christian home. Dick was a gentleman and loving husband to Carolyn for 60 years of marriage, and he served as a great Christian example to all who knew him. Although we are sad that he is no longer with us, we rejoice that he is in Heaven today with our Lord, his mother and son, and all of the other saints! Dick was preceded in death by his oldest son Richard III. In addition to his wife Carolyn and sons Tim (Heidi) and Lewis, Dick is survived by daughter-in-law Teresa Amerson Spogen, four grandchildren Elizabeth (and Michael) San Filippo, Richard IV (and Christina) Cherry, Ryan Cherry and Kristen Cherry; and two great grandchildren Jackson San Filippo and Leigha San Filippo. A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. with services starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday February 28, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Merritt Island FL, A burial with full military honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl, Monday March 02, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. Cards and notes to Carolyn and the family may be sent to Beckman Williamson Funeral Homes and Crematory at 101 North Brevard Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. In lieu of flowers donations in Richard's honor may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Cemetery Details Bushnell National Cemetery 6502 SW 102nd Ave. Bushnell, FL, 33513 Memorial Service FEB 28. 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM First Baptist Church of Merritt Island 140 Magnolia Merritt Island, Fl, US