Colonel (R) Richard Edwin Pedersen

On the morning of September 22, 2023, Colonel (R) Richard Edwin Pedersen of Indianapolis Indiana died at the age of eighty-five (85). Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Friday, October 6, 2023, with a calling beginning at 10:00am at The Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis, IN.

Colonel Pedersen was born in Tulsa, Okla., on April 22, 1938, the eldest child of Richard Bert and Gladys Fischer Pedersen. His father was a retired Navy Commander. Richard was raised on Bainbridge Island WA where he led an active life participating in Boy Scouts, 4-H, Church activities at Port Madison Lutheran Church (which his grandfather and Father help build in the early 1900’s) and DeMolay serving as Master Councilor. While attending Bainbridge High School, he lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Tennis. Richard graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1956. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Washington in Seattle, graduating from there in June 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a major in accounting. At the UW he was active in his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega and served on the Inter-fraternity council.

He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He entered active duty in August of that year and attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course. The colonel's early commissioned service was with the 1st Armored Rifle Battalion, 46th Infantry, Munich, Germany, where he served as a line platoon leader and support platoon leader. His career in the Finance Corps began in 1962 when he was assigned to the 105th Finance Disbursing Section in Munich, Germany. During that assignment, he completed the Finance Officer Basic Course by correspondence.

While in Germany, Richard met and married Sally Ann Wilkinson. Their two sons, David Eric and Richard Olin were born in Munich.

Following his promotion to Captain in June 1964, he was assigned as the Finance and Accounting Officer, Madigan General Hospital. While they were in Tacoma WA, their third son Robert Arne was born.

He returned to school in December 1966 entering the Finance Officer Advanced Course and then assigned to Vietnam. He served as the Executive Officer for the 92nd Finance Section in Cam Ranh Bay beginning in August 1967. He assumed command of the 22nd Finance Section in Nha Trang in February at the same time as he was promoted to Major. Returning to the United States in August 1968, he was assigned as an instructional division chief in the Department of Finance, U.S. Army Finance School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis IN. He then enrolled in the Indiana University Graduate School of Business where he received his Master of Business Administration degree in Quantitative Business Analysis in May 1972.

Following graduation in 1972, he was assigned as the Headquarters Commandant/Budget and Fiscal Officer for the Joint United States Military Mission for Aid to Turkey. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College via correspondence in 1975. Returning to Fort Benjamin Harrison, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Finance and Accounting Center working under the Director for Quality where he directed a world-wide audit and review program. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May 1976 and promoted to Colonel in March 1982. He retired in March 1987 after serving his country for 27 years.

Upon retiring, he began his civilian career working for Sage Systems. Next, he began working for Primerica where he used his CPA talents in helping many clients. Richard and Sally became active in the Indianapolis community especially in their church, Episcopal Church of the Nativity. Richard joined the local Kiwanis Club who had many retired friends. He continued to meet with other retired Finance officers in their yearly conventions around the county.

Richard also tried to go back to the Northwest to attend school reunions and see his many relatives who remained in Washington.

Col. Pedersen was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Cost Analyst, a member of the Indiana Society of CPA's, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Cost Analysis, the American Society of Military Comptrollers, the Association of Government Accountants, the Association of the United States Army, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in addition to other military and civilian professional organizations.

He was awarded and wore two Legian of Merits, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Army Commendation Medal. He has also received three major awards from his professional association.

In April of 2023, Richard, and his youngest son Arne, went on Indy Honor Flight #38 to Washington DC. It was a wonderful trip. The Mail Call and Homecoming were amazing. Much better than he got coming back from Vietnam.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Richard Bert and Gladys Arlene Fischer Pedersen and his sister Karen Silva.

Richard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally, sons David Eric (Joyce), Richard Olin(Alison), and Robert Arne (Michele); grandsons Richard Blake, Charles Graham (Haily), granddaughter Faith; his sister Jerri Bolinger (Bob), brother Bert (Donna) and brother Ollie (Janice), brother-in-law Mark Silva (Nancy) and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of sending flowers, please donate to Richard's favorite charity, HVAF of Indiana. Please type in that you are donating on his behalf in the comments section.