Richard D. Gilmore, 90, known to most of his friends as Dick, died on the early morning of 19 July 2024 at Creekside Continuing Care Center in Burlington, Washington after a long illness.

He was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on August 8, 1933 and graduated from Beatrice High School in 1951. He married the former Barbara Jean Eiben in Beatrice on June 20, 1954. After joining the Navy in 1952, he quickly progressed through the enlisted ranks, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1959.  He was commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer in 1962 and retired in 1980 with the rank of Commander. He served at many duty stations during his naval service but felt that his most significant and challenging assignment was as the on-scene meteorologist and oceanographer for the CIA's 1974 successful raising of a sunken Soviet Golf II class submarine from the ocean bottom in over 16,000 feet of water in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean (also known as the Azorian Project).  His service as a flight meteorologist in VW-1, a typhoon tracking squadron on Guam in 1968-1970, was his favorite duty assignment.  During his time with VW-1, he participated in the successful flight penetrations of over 70 tropical cyclones, including several typhoons with sustained winds in excess of 100 knots.

Cmdr. Gilmore moved to Oak Harbor, WA with his family in 1975, where he was assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Weather Service Environmental Detachment at NAS Whidbey Island.  He transferred to Fleet Weather Central, Guam in 1978 as Operations Officer and, subsequently, Executive Officer.  After his retirement from the Navy in 1980, he returned to Oak Harbor and spent several years as a self-employed, consulting meteorologist.  He was also employed as a marine meteorologist for Global Weather Dynamics, Inc. of Monterey, California, teaching marine meteorology to Saudi Arabian students before traveling to Abidjan, Ivory Coast in West Africa to act as the on-scene meteorologist and oceanographer for the delicate placement of a jack-up oil rig in Ivory Coast's coastal waters.  Most recently, he was employed as a meteorologist for Science Applications International Corporation, (SAIC) also of Monterey, California, retiring from SAIC on March 30, 2001. He and his wife Barbara moved to Anacortes in February 2003.

He was an active volunteer in the Oak Harbor community, serving on the Board of Management for the Armed Services YMCA for several years in the 1980's, and Island County United Way in the early 1990's. He served as Campaign Chairman for the Island County United Way fund drive in 1990, followed by a year as President of the United Way Board of Directors in 1991.  He served as Campaign Chairman for Representative Barry Sehlin in his successful bid to win a seat in the Washington State Legislature in 1992, and assisted Representative Sehlin in three subsequent campaigns. Cmdr. Gilmore was a member of The Military Officers Association of America, Navy Mutual Aid Association, and was a life member of the Naval Weather Service Association.

Cmdr. Gilmore is survived by Barbara, his cherished wife of over 70 years, sons Colonel Mark Gilmore, United States Army (Retired) and wife JoAnn York-Gilmore of Anacortes, WA, and Steven Gilmore of Stanwood, WA; two grandsons, Ryan and Christopher Gilmore; three granddaughters, Samantha Fujiwara of Albany, OR, Kristan Branson of Leavenworth, KS, and Sonja Johnson of Norfolk, VA; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.  In addition, he is survived by several nieces and nephews. His parents Lloyd and Julia Mae Gilmore, brothers Lloyd and James Gilmore, sister Jacquelyn Howard and beloved granddaughter Charlotte (Gilmore) Boches preceded him in death.

At his request, there will be no services. Cmdr. Gilmore was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at a location to be selected by family members. Bookmark this direct link to Cmdr. Gilmore's memorial site to check for future updates www.evanschapel.com/obituary/richard-gilmore