Richard Helfrich Denison

Brigadier General Richard H. Denison (Retired) passed away Friday, April 1st. He was born in New Albany, Indiana, on April 30, 1921. He led a distinguished career in first the Air Force then the Air National Guard. After High School he moved to California and began studying Aeronautical Engineering. He was drafted in 1942 and sent over-seas where he won numerous awards for meritorious conduct including the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Air Force and The "Legion of Honor" from France. He met Betty Jane Schmidt in California. After his graduation as a navigator in 1943 in Monroe, Louisiana at Selman Field, Betty and Dick were married December 4, 1943. They were married 73 years. Following the war, he entered the Air National Guard and was recalled for 2 years for the Korean War. He remained in the Air National Guard where he had served until 1976. After his retirement, Colonel D or Dick, as he liked to be called, joined the staff of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. He acted as Head of the Restoration Research Team in 1977 and later as the Museum Exhibit Section. He left State employment in 1990 and became a docent where he completed 13,000 hours of service. A Celebration of Life will be held at the California State Rail Road Museum Theater at 12:00 April 14th. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be sent to the California State Railroad Foundation. Dick is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters Christine Nekl and Carol Denison; godson Jim Owen; grandchildren James Nekl, Kirsten Hamlin, Gabriel Hernandez, and Ryan Hernandez; great grandchildren Aidyn, Isabelle and Rylan Nekl.

Arrangements under the direction of Harry A. Nauman & Son, Sacramento, CA.