Samuel Harmer Rickard, III's Obituary
OBITUARY
SAMUEL HARMER RICKARD III
Mr. Samuel Harmer Rickard III, age 85, of Potomac Falls, VA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 20, 2010 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born on July 10, 1924 in Atlantic City, NJ, Mr. Rickard was the eldest son of the late Samuel Harmer Rickard, Jr. and the late Ada Thomas Rickard. Mr. Rickard is survived by his loving daughter, Kristin Rickard Spak of Leesburg, VA, and two brothers, John G. Rickard of Lewisville, NC, and Donald C. Rickard of Pagosa Springs, CO. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Brian T. Spak of Leesburg, VA; Nicholas M. Spak of Boulder, CO; Samuel T. Rickard of Gaithersburg, MD; and Jessica L. White of Ashburn, VA; as well as two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Rickard was predeceased by his beloved wife of 54 years, Elaine Lonnquest Rickard, in January of 2010; by his son Samuel Lonnquest Rickard in March, 2007; by his brother David Thomas Rickard in July, 2009; and by his son-in-law, Michael Robert Spak in January, 2010.
Mr. Rickard led a remarkable life of distinguished public service, serving his country both in the military in World War II, and then in a long-term career with the Federal Government. As the son of Baptist missionaries, Mr. Rickard spent his formative years growing up in Burma, where his father was Head of the English Department and then President of Judson College in Rangoon from 1925–1941. Mr. Rickard and his three brothers attended Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India during much of that time. There, he excelled as a student and became a championship swimmer, among numerous other achievements. At the beginning of World War II, the Rickard family was forced to flee Burma in advance of the Japanese invasion in 1941, leaving all of their possessions behind and making a harrowing journey out of the country on foot to Assam, India, before returning to the United States. The route that they traveled out of Burma was largely through uncharted jungle terrain and eventually became part of the vital transportation network used to supply Allied forces fighting the Japanese in Burma during World War II.
After returning to the U.S. in 1942, Mr. Rickard enrolled at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, but interrupted his studies to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served his country as a decorated pilot in the South Pacific from 1942-1945, attaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged in 1946. Mr. Rickard subsequently completed his education at Bucknell, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and played varsity soccer, graduating with a degree in Political Science in 1949. He completed additional graduate coursework at Georgetown University before joining the Foreign Service in 1950. Ironically, Mr. Rickard’s first diplomatic assignment abroad was to Rangoon, Burma.
Mr. Rickard married Elaine Lonnquest Rickard in December of 1955. The couple had two children and served in numerous other overseas assignments, including India, Jerusalem, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, over the course of Mr. Rickard’s distinguished 34-year Foreign Service career. Mr. Rickard became a specialist in South Asia and the Middle East, but also served in a number of other executive assignments before retiring from government service in 1984. He returned to work as a State Department contractor from 1989-1995.
Mr. Rickard and his wife were long-time residents of Chevy Chase, Maryland, but moved to Virginia in 2006 so that they could be closer to their daughter. They resided at Morningside House of Leesburg from 2006-2009 before moving to The Johnson Center at Falcon’s Landing in Potomac Falls, VA in 2009. Mr. Rickard maintained a lifelong interest in travel and international affairs and was known for his sharp intellect, his sense of humor, and his devotion to his family.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA. The family will receive guests from 11 am until 12 noon, with services immediately following at noon.
Interment and Columbarium services with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 3 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard will be inurned together at that time. Those wishing to attend the services at Arlington should arrive at the Administration building by 2:30 pm.
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