Richard R. Schweiger

Richard R. Schweiger, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 13, 2019 in Lithia, Florida. Richard was born in Barton, New York on August 3, 1938. As a young man, he joined the United States Air Force and traveled the world. While flying AC-130s, he flew missions in and out of Vietnam for years, in Europe and even behind the iron curtain on special missions during the cold war. He did a tour of duty for a year in Vietnam with the 8th Special Operations Squadron. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross in March of 1970, the Air Medal (first and second Oak Leaf) for meritorious achievements while in aerial flight from 1970, and a third Oak Leaf cluster in 1975. As a C-130 Flight Engineer, he served many missions including 63rd Air Tactical Squadron, the 8th Special Operations Squadron, and the 53rd Weather Squadron, and in Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadrons. After retiring from the USAF in 1974, Richard was employed for many years at Ingalls Shipbuilding, finally retiring in 1988. After his retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled airplanes with fellow enthusiasts. Richard was married to the late Nobuko Schweiger in Tokyo, Japan in 1959. Richard was predeceased by his loving wife, Nobuko M Schweiger; his parents, Fredrick and Julia Schweiger; and brothers, Fredrick and Michael Schweiger. He is survived by his sister, Josephine Canzler (husband Richard), Barton, New York; son, Richard Schweiger (wife Karen) of Lithia, Florida; daughter, Roshelle Orgusaar (husband Robert) of Destin, Florida; his granddaughter Nicole Clark (husband Aaron), and his great granddaughter Violet Clark of Charlotte, North Carolina. Graveside services with full military honors will be Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 12:30. If you desire, please remember Richard with donations to the charity of your choice. All funeral arrangements are being provided by the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Biloxi.