Richard Roland Lund

Birth date: Dec 27, 1932 Death date: Feb 17, 2020

Richard R. Lund, originally from Puyallup, WA, passed away peacefully at home February 17, 2020. Richard, son of Constance and Richard Lund, graduated from Puyallup High School in 1951 and from the College of Puget Sound in 1955. Read Obituary

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Al Ramsey

293w ago

Dick will be remembered and missed by a great many as a man of true kindness and character. As a young pilot who first met him as a member of the 75th MAS at Travis, he was one of those rare people who inspires you to become the best you can be through his example. Because of Dick and others I was so fortunate to serve with, they created in me a foundation that allowed me to accomplish and do more than I ever dreamed possible. Dick will always be loved and known as one cared for others above himself - a true leader. Rest in Peace and God's Blessings to your Family! Al Ramsey Lt Col, USAF (Ret)

Chuck Ewing

293w ago

Dick was one of the best and most confident pilots with whom I had ever flown. Nothing ever seemed to rattle him and he handled bad weather, aircraft malfunctions, and any unusual situation with ease. He taught me a lot about aircrew management and how to handle command directives. He was a walking encyclopedia of many types of aircraft and could rattle off specifications related to them. I often felt that if it had wings, he could fly it.
He was a friend beyond the flying game and if you needed help, he was there wearing that big smile. He could build anything and had done two houses amongst other huge projects including a monster stairway from his lawn to the water some 50' below. He didn't skimp on materials for that project, no 2x4's there, it was 4"x6"'s or bigger! When he moved to WA from CA, he bought a D-6 Caterpillar to flatten the top of a hill for a pad for his new home which he built with lots of windows facing Mt. Rainier. What a view! I'll have memories forever sharing a brew or two with Dick while sitting on the deck at either his home in Vacaville, his home in Eatonville, or his home in Keyport. I'll miss those days. Have a smooth flight old friend, give Petty a hug for me. RIP...
Chuck Ewing, LtCol USAF(Ret)

Larry Niemotka

293w ago

Flying missions with Dick was always pleasurable due to his calm attitude and confident command ability. Never boisterous or pushy and with his trade mark smile he built confidence even under the most stressful flight conditions , and with the C-5 we had our share. My recently diseased wife Mayce met him while attending various school functions , commenting "what a nice friendly person he was" and how she enjoyed laughing at his comments during our children's performances.
The world would be a better place if everyone smiled like Dick .
Rest now in the arms of our Lord Dick and most sincere sympathy to his dear family.
Larry Niemotka 75th Flight Engineer.

Richard C Smith

293w ago

I was a C-5 flight engineer at Travis AFB and flew with Dick many times. I have to say he was one of the best pilots I had ever met in my 23 years with the USAF. RIP Col. Lund -RC Smith

Rich Lunan

293w ago

I am so sorry to hear of Dick's passing. I met Dick in 1974 when I reported to the 75th Military Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB as a young Captain Navigator. As a previous weather officer and recent graduate from Navigator training, Major Dick Lund became my "hard crew" aircraft commander. Once on a trip out in the Pacific, I asked Dick did he think the C-5A was a complicated aircraft to fly because of all the multiple back-up systems on the airplane. He replied very confidently that as long as he had altitude, airspeed, power, and a heading indicator, he could fly any airplane. He wasn't bragging, he was simply telling me what he was capable of doing. It was many years after that I learned from a mutual aviator friend of Dick's heroics while serving in Vietnam. Dick would have never brought this up. He was simply too humble. He took this unseasoned slick-wing Navigator under his tutelage and made me a better crew member and officer. I will always remember Dick for the way he treated others with respect and dignity, his wonderful laugh and sense of humor, his absolute professionalism and patriotism, his devotion to duty, and his outstanding leadership. My regret is I only got to spend a few years with Dick at Travis before moving on to other assignments. You can be justly proud of Dick. It was my great honor to know and serve with this American hero.
Sincerely,
Rich Lunan, Lt Col (Ret), USAF
O'Fallon, IL

Jennifer Dowell

293w ago

Added 10 new photos to the Pictures shared by Richard's family album.

Ed Cross

293w ago

Miss him

Ed Cross

Bob Yerbury

294w ago

Although I haven't spoken with Dick in a few years, I still have great memories of our conversations when I did. Dick and I shared a love of hunting and the outdoors and I continue to take a prized rifle that Dick gave to me on my annual hunts to Montana. I will miss Dick and just knowing that he is no longer with us, the world is a lesser place with him gone. Bob Yerbury

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