Richard Dean Kelleher

Richard (Dick) Kelleher, 79, of Canyon Country, passed away Monday, March 16, 2015 at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, CA, following a mercifully short battle with cancer. A loving circle of family and friends surrounded him.

Dick was born in Haverhill, MA on August 8, 1935 to the late Helen and Cornelius Kelleher. He graduated from Searles High School in Methuen, MA in 1953, and served in the U.S. Air Force as an Avionics Technician on the C-121 Constellation Aircraft.

Dick married Helen Frerking, his beloved bride of more than 53 years, on August 5, 1961, and they resided in Canyon Country for the past 48 years.

Dick retired from Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas/Douglas after a 38-year career as a Radar Cross-Section Testing Engineer, having worked on aircraft projects such as the F/A-18 Hornet and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Much of his aerospace career was spent working in the Antelope Valley.

A long-serving member of the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge, he was honored as their Volunteer of the Year in 2010-11. He was also an avid HAM radio operator. In addition to his loving wife Helen, Dick is survived by his devoted children: Rick (Sandy) Kelleher, of Stevenson Ranch, CA; Christina Kelleher (Bob) Mills, of Reno, NV; and Brenda Kelleher (and future son-in-law Wade Melcher), of Reno, NV. He is also survived by his sister, Gail Driscoll, of Salem, NH, along with close friends, nieces and nephews. He leaves six grandchildren who adored him: Tarryn Andolsek; Matthew and Cory Mills; and Jennifer, Lexi, and Tyler Kelleher.

A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 27 at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, CA. The funeral service will take place Saturday, March 28, at 10:30am, at St. Clare Catholic Church, with burial (graveside) services at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, CA. There will be a reception at the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge immediately following the graveside services