Richard D. Ayers


 

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Richard “Dick” Ayers on June 29, 2017 at 89 years old. His was a long and well lived life. Dick spent his early years in Winnebago, NE. He and his parents followed major construction projects during WW II, ultimately leading them to Hanford, WA, where Dick graduated from high school in 1945. Joining the Navy soon thereafter, he became an electronics technician assigned to communications intelligence and his duty including one year on Guam installing and maintaining radio listening systems. In 1949, Dick started at the University of Nebraska studying electrical engineering, but he was called back up after one year and served another 18 months with the Navy in Washington, DC. He returned to Nebraska and finished his BSEE in a total of 3 ½ years with honors.

It was during this time in Lincoln that he met the love of his life, Katherine Parkening, on a blind date.They were married in Plattsmouth, NE, on June 6, 1954, and soon thereafter moved to Westchester, CA, where Dick joined Hughes Aircraft as an Engineer.There they joined Morningside United Church of Christ and, in August 1955, had their first son, Kevin. He was followed two years later by a second son, Dana, and in 1962, their third son, Doug.

Dick and Kathy loved to travel and camp. In 1967, Dick became one of Hughes Aircraft’s liaisons with Draper Labs, Raytheon, the US Navy, and MIT in Massachusetts.The family spent two years in Framingham, MA, camping all along the East coast from Virginia to the Gaspe Peninsula. In 1969, the family returned to California, settled in Calabasas, and joined Woodland Hills Community Church.

WHCC was a huge part of their lives. Dick and Kathy were active in the church, singing in the choir and leading both the Junior High youth group and later, the High School youth group. Dick knew every nut and bolt of the church, being active with the buildings and ground team for decades.They both helped with fundraising, including working on Rose Parade Floats, and were adult leaders on many of the High School group’s workcamps to several Indian Reservations.

When Dick retired after 35 years with Hughes Aircraft in 1989, he and Kathy purchased an Alpenlite trailer and hit the road. Over the next two decades, they traveled most of the country and spent every January in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.

Dick’s kidneys began failing about ten years ago and he had been on dialysis for the last eight years. Still there for the love of his life, Kathy, his health began failing. He suffered a heart attack on June 29th and passed several hours later with two of his sons at his bedside.

Kathy passed away from Alzheimer’s on August 5, 2017. Dick is survived by his three sons, Kevin, Dana, and Doug, his grandsons, Sean and Brad Ayers, his sister Betty Jane Kearney, and his step-sister, Patty Valladolid, along with Sean’s wife, Kim, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for both Dick and Kathy will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Woodland Hills Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to an Alzhemeimer’s association.