- Date Of Birth: May 8, 1950
- Date Of Death: November 10, 2021
- State: New Mexico
Richard Charles Irvin Jr., 71, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, surrounded by his family at home. He was born on Monday, May 8, 1950, on March Air Force Base in Riverside, California, to Richard C. Irvin Sr. and Olive Irvin. When he was three years old, they relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania which became home. As he grew, his father taught him mechanics, how to fish, and how to hunt. He participated in the choir and was on the high school football team while attending Catholic school. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1968 and spent three and a half years in Vietnam. He was then stationed in San Angelo, Texas at Goodfellow Air Force Base in 1971, where he met his wife, Theresa Roman.
They were married on Saturday, October 30, 1971. His orders took him to the Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. There, they had a son, Richard William Irvin in 1972. In 1974 he was reassigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in the supply division, Prime Beef team, where they had their daughter, Katherine Marie Irvin, who was born in 1974. He frequently took TDY tours, two of those years in Korea, and others on confidential tours. He retired as MSGT on Wednesday, March 1, 1989, after 21 years of military service.
He was active at Kirtland Air Force Base chapel, where he was an Usher, Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as a 4th degree Knight. In 1998, he joined Our Lady of Fatima Parish, where he continued to serve as Usher and Eucharistic Minister as well as anywhere else, he was needed.
During both his time in the military and afterwards, he worked two to three jobs at a time to provide for his family. Despite how busy he was, he always made time for his children and grandchildren, who he taught the same skills, hobbies and values his father taught him. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, working on his lawn, cooking for the family, and taking care of his dogs. He especially loved crossword puzzles, paint by number projects, puzzles, John Wayne movies, the Christmas movies on Hallmark, and calls with his siblings.
He will always be remembered as a faithful husband, father, grandfather, and brother.
Richard was preceded in death by parents, Richard Charles Irvin, Sr. and Olive Irvin; sister, Judy Csamer; brother, George Irvin; and daughter-in-law, Cheryl Irvin. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Theresa Irvin; children, Richard Irvin, and Katherine Irvin (Theresa Lucero); grandchildren, Allanna, Damon, Brannon Butler, Oriana, and Nicholas Irvin; his sisters, Rose Beatty (Bob), Olive Miller (Dave), and Adele Persuhn (Jerry); brother, William Irvin (Elaine); brother-in-law, Alfred Csamer; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and great-grand-nieces and nephews.
In addition to his immediate family, he was loved by all whose lives he touched and will be missed by all who knew him. The family would like to express gratitude to all the family members, friends, and caretakers who helped with providing such great care along his journey. A special thanks to Father Stephen Schulz and Deacon Charles Navarrete Jr. from Our Lady of Fatima Parish who brought him The Sacraments, and to his favorite nurse, Barbara, at Hospice Compassus who treated him as family and who he loved dearly.
