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Richard Walker Speers, Retired Lt. Col. USAF, died peacefully at home, at the age of 81, on Wednesday, May 28, 2003. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mardell Walker Speers; his sons, Robert Kenneth Speers and his wife, Candice, Richard Lynn Speers and his wife, Mel, and his daughter, Rori Cheal Smith and her husband, Gregg; grandchildren include Kyle Walker Speers, Desiree and her husband, Seth Michael Jones, Breanne Nicole Smith, Karie Speers and Sarah Jeffers; and great-grandchildren, Kimball Walker Michael Jones and Ammon Kai Jones. During World War II, he left college to enlist in the Air Force where he served as a navigator. His"B-17 Flying Fortress" was shot down over the English Channel on December 31, 1943 and he spent the next 18 months as a prisoner of war in Germany. Upon his liberation from the POW camp, he jumped the train and hitchhiked home to see his wife and his 19 month old son for the first time"To heck with debriefing, I'm off this train and I'm going home!". During his 23 years of service he and his family were stationed in bases in Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S. Upon retirement from the USAF in 1966, he became the Campaign Director for 18 years with the United Way of the Greater El Paso Texas area. Three years ago, he and Mardell moved to Corrales, New Mexico to be closer to family. The family wishes to thank the Doctors and Nurses at the Heart Hospital and the Vista Care Hospice program for their help and support. Interment Services with full military honor were held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 11:30 a.m. on May 30, 2003. We will greatly miss our"Papa D".
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