Richard K. Ely |
| Posted 2009-09-18 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun Wickenburg, AZ, Page A-15 September 16, 2009 Richard K. Ely, 86, of Wickenburg, passed away peacefully in his home on Sept. 7 with family at his side. Richard was born Oct. 23, 1922 in Somerville, N.J., the son of Dr. Lancelot and Alice (Lawrence) Ely. During World War II, Richard served as an aerial engineer with the Army Air Corps (46th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317 Troop Carrier Group), attaining the rank of technical sergeant. He participated in campaigns in the Southern Philippines, New Guinea, and Luzon, among others, and received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters for participating in missions that flew into combat areas. Prior to his service, he attended two years of forestry school at Mont Alto (a campus of Pennsylvania State University). Subsequent to his discharge from service in 1945, he entered Penn State University proper, where he pursued a degree in forestry, graduating in 1948. In 1947 he married Frances B. Zufall of Punxsutawney, Penn., who also graduated from Penn State with a degree in physical education. Richard's first forestry position took the young couple to Ontario, Canada, where he worked for Abitibi Pulp and Paper. In 1949, he began his career as a forester for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, on the Klamath Reservation in Oregon (1949-1950). He continued working with tribes to manage their forest resources on the Makah Reservation in northwest Washington (1950-1956) and from 1956 to 1962 on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona. In 1962, he was appointed to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Control Center, overseeing management of all forest fires occurring on Native American reservation lands in the United States. The position was in Washington, D.C., where Richard served for 10 years after moving from Arizona to northern Virginia. In the late 1960s, Richard assisted in the development of the Boise Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. In 1972, he transferred to BIA Forestry's Denver Area Office until his retirement in 1974. Never one to sit idle when he could be doing something, after retiring from civil service, Richard pursued other areas of interest. He worked for a while as a hunting guide for a Colorado outfitter enterprise. He also worked in landscaping, and for several years worked part-time for Knife World in Denver, where his enjoyment of well-made knives found an outlet. Additionally, he was a skilled leather craftsman and made many beautiful wallets, purses, belts and other items. In 1982, Richard and Frances settled in Wickenburg, where they have lived for 27 years. Richard has been a life-long member of the Tau Phi Delta (forestry) fraternity. He was a deacon and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He has served as president of the Society of American Foresters, Washington, D.C., Chapter. He is a past commander of VFW Post 285 in Wickenburg, and a former president of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) for the Wickenburg chapter. Richard was also a life member of the Royal Arch Masons, Oasis Chapter 15 - formerly of Wickenburg, presently Peoria Lodge No. 31 - and a member of El Zaribah Shriners in Phoenix. He was married for 62 wonderful years to Frances, who survives him. Also surviving are daughters Barbara Piatt and her husband Robert, presently of Wickenburg; Gwenn Ziegler of Peoria, Ariz.; and Carol Peninger and her husband Michael of Glendale, Ariz. As well, he leaves grandchildren David Early, Theresa Bates, Seth Ziegler, and James and Daniel Peninger; and great-grandchildren Cinnamon and Keaton Early, and Wynona and Sara Bates. Richard will be remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; for his strong family values; abiding sense of humor; faithfulness to his many commitments; and for the courage and fortitude he displayed in his long struggle with COPD. A memorial service was held on Friday (Sept. 11) at David's Desert Chapel in Wickenburg. Donations in Richard's memory may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital. See Also: Find A Grave |
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