Richard William Greenlee was born in Sioux City, Iowa on March 4, 1931.  His mother died when he was four years of age and he was raised by his grandparents, Charles and Alta Englund in Gowrie, IA.  He graduated from high school in Gowrie and attended Morningside College until he was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict with the Iowa Air National Guard in April 1951, when that unit moved to Bangor, Maine.  Richard became an Aviation Cadet and received his wings and commission as a 2Lt in June of 1953.

While in the Air Force, he had advanced education studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where in 1965 he received a BGE with a major in business. He subsequently served in the United States Air Force for 23 years, rising to a rank of Colonel, obtained a command pilot rating, and had some 4,800 hours of flying time mostly in single engine jet fighters.  Richard served at numerous stateside bases, and was stationed overseas in Korea, Japan, England, France, Germany, South Vietnam, and Thailand.  He had two combat tours flying RF-4Cs in SE Asia, flew 325 combat missions, 108 of which were over North Vietnam and had over 659 hours of combat time.

His medals include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with 19 oak leaf clusters.  In 1972, he met the love of his life Evelyn J. Gobber and they were married at the Fort Myer Chapel in Arlington Virginia.  Richard retired in September 1974. Richard and Evelyn moved from McLean Virginia to Oak Harbor, WA in 1986 and later relocated to Anacortes in 1999.  He passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.

Richard is survived by Evelyn, his loving wife of 49 years; sisters-in-law: Sue Greenlee, Edith Broady, Ruth Wendelin and brothers-in-law: Arnold Gobber and Roger Broady, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to:

Fisher House Foundation ( www.fisherhousefoundation.org ); Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to a charity of your choice.

His Memorial Service With Military Honors will be held 11:00 a.m. at Evans Funeral Chapel on Friday, December 17, 2021. A Reception will follow the Service also at Evans. Richard's final resting place will be in Iowa.

To view Richard's memorial video - click this link: https://www.vimeo.com/657583802/e6683f78a3

To view Richard's funeral service - click this link: https://www.vimeo.com/659973316/a25a1a7ef7