Richard A. Symons
September 19, 1924 — December 29, 2004
Richard A. Symons
RICHARD A. SYMONS
LITTLETON, NH Richard A. Symons, 80, passed away on December 29th, 2004 of heart failure in his Littleton home.
Richard was born a son to Fred and Cecelia (Kumle) Symons on September 19, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up in Merced and spent many summers at June Lake with his parents and three brothers. As a teenager, he and his younger brother, David, spent many summer weeks hiking and camping in Yosemite National Park. For his Eagle Scout project, he prophetically built a footbridge in a park in Merced.
During World War II, he piloted a B-26 Marauder Bomber on many missions over Germany and northern Italy. At the age of 21, he retired from the military service as an Army Air Force Captain.
Richard graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle as a Civil Engineer. As chief engineer, Richard built railroads and worked on other construction projects for the United States Government and other governments in remote corners of the world. He also served as Vice President and/or President of three engineering companies.
In 1961, Richard left the construction business to become an acting associate professor at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, where he taught graduate students in Civil Engineering. He declined a long-term professorship to return to the civil engineering and construction industry. Richard retired in 1984 and moved to Peacham, Vermont. In semi-retirement, he served as Clerk-of-the-Works on eleven new or renovation projects in northern Vermont and New Hampshire.
He was affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineering, the American Railway Engineering Association, the American Society for Testing Materials, Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering fraternity, and the Stanford Construction Institute. He was an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and a member of the Dispute Review Board Foundation.
In 1996, Richard and his wife, Helen, moved to Littleton, NH where he became a life member of the VFW Howard Shawney Post #816, and also joined the American Legion.
Surviving family members include his wife of 53 years, Helen Symons of Littleton, NH; a daughter, Sara H. Symons of Leesburg, VA; a son, Thomas L. Symons, three grandchildren, Thomas Jr., Richard II, and Polly, who reside in Upperville, VA; and his brother, David Symons of Rich Hill, Missouri.
SERVICES Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. at the Pillsbury Funeral Home, 101 Union Street, Littleton, NH, with Rev. Edward Lopeman officiating. The VFW Howard Shawney Post #816 of Littleton will present Military Rites.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to North Country Home Health, 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH 03561
Daughters comment: A quiet, unassuming man, our father and Moms husband, rarely shared his lifes achievements with others. This remembrance barely touches upon the rich, fulfilling experiences we shared as a family or how grateful we are that he was and still is a blessing in our lives. I love you, Daddy.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.
LITTLETON, NH Richard A. Symons, 80, passed away on December 29th, 2004 of heart failure in his Littleton home.
Richard was born a son to Fred and Cecelia (Kumle) Symons on September 19, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up in Merced and spent many summers at June Lake with his parents and three brothers. As a teenager, he and his younger brother, David, spent many summer weeks hiking and camping in Yosemite National Park. For his Eagle Scout project, he prophetically built a footbridge in a park in Merced.
During World War II, he piloted a B-26 Marauder Bomber on many missions over Germany and northern Italy. At the age of 21, he retired from the military service as an Army Air Force Captain.
Richard graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle as a Civil Engineer. As chief engineer, Richard built railroads and worked on other construction projects for the United States Government and other governments in remote corners of the world. He also served as Vice President and/or President of three engineering companies.
In 1961, Richard left the construction business to become an acting associate professor at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, where he taught graduate students in Civil Engineering. He declined a long-term professorship to return to the civil engineering and construction industry. Richard retired in 1984 and moved to Peacham, Vermont. In semi-retirement, he served as Clerk-of-the-Works on eleven new or renovation projects in northern Vermont and New Hampshire.
He was affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineering, the American Railway Engineering Association, the American Society for Testing Materials, Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering fraternity, and the Stanford Construction Institute. He was an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and a member of the Dispute Review Board Foundation.
In 1996, Richard and his wife, Helen, moved to Littleton, NH where he became a life member of the VFW Howard Shawney Post #816, and also joined the American Legion.
Surviving family members include his wife of 53 years, Helen Symons of Littleton, NH; a daughter, Sara H. Symons of Leesburg, VA; a son, Thomas L. Symons, three grandchildren, Thomas Jr., Richard II, and Polly, who reside in Upperville, VA; and his brother, David Symons of Rich Hill, Missouri.
SERVICES Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. at the Pillsbury Funeral Home, 101 Union Street, Littleton, NH, with Rev. Edward Lopeman officiating. The VFW Howard Shawney Post #816 of Littleton will present Military Rites.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to North Country Home Health, 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH 03561
Daughters comment: A quiet, unassuming man, our father and Moms husband, rarely shared his lifes achievements with others. This remembrance barely touches upon the rich, fulfilling experiences we shared as a family or how grateful we are that he was and still is a blessing in our lives. I love you, Daddy.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard A. Symons, please visit our flower store.
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