Richard Gaddy Rhyne

Colonel (Ret.) Richard G Rhyne passed peacefully on November 19, 2024 in Tampa, Florida four days after his 87th birthday. He was born in 1937 to Olivia and Spencer Rhyne in Wadesboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Morven High School, Morven, NC, in May 1956.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, in 1960 and a Master of Science degree in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington, DC. while attending the Navy Command and Staff College in Newport Rhode Island.

Between flight school and Germany Richard married his true and only love, Joan Jarman from Durham, NC on 27 December 1960. The two met in a summer French elective college course at UNC Chapel Hill and as of this 27th of December would have been married 64 glorious years.

After completing flying training in 1960, he was assigned to fly F-102 fighter aircraft with the 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. He was reassigned in 1965 to Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, as an instructor pilot and training officer with the 3617th Pilot Training Wing. In April 1969 Joan and Richard would move to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for F-4C pilot upgrade training in preparation for his next assignment to Cam Rahn Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as an aircraft commander with the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron and mission analysis officer, Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam from 1969-1970. Richard flew 120 combat sorties in Vietnam in support of US Army Forces under attack and at night to destroy enemy storage areas and anti-aircraft guns. Richard would say later in life that flying in combat was the pinnacle of flying and the one job in his Air Force career he would never forget.

Richard continued to fly the F-4 throughout most of his career in various assignments which included a one-year tour flying with the Israeli Air Force. While assigned to the Pentagon, Washington, DC in 1976 for a three-year tour as an air operation plans officer with the Mid-East Africa Division serving with the International Security Affairs Division, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Israeli-Egyptian Peace Agreement Team. He was appointed in 1979 as the Air Force planner within the director of operations for airbase construction, in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the first to fly the F-4E aircraft with the Israeli Air Force.

After his return from Israel, the next seven years of assignments were assistant director for operations at Seymore Johnson AFB, NC, a student at the National Defense College of Canada, Group Commander for flying operations, at Patrick AFB, FL, Vice Wing Commander at Homestead AFB and Wing Commander, Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC, where he retired 15 May 1987.

Colonel Rhyne had flown more than 4,300 hours in the T-33, T-34, T-37, F-102, F-4C/D/E, O-2, OV-10 and OT-37 aircraft.

Atypical to most fighter pilots, Richard attended the Army parachute school, Fort Benning, Georgia, and had 54 parachute jumps during his career.

His military decorations and awards over his 26 years included the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and four oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars, the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After retirement, he worked for Carolina Biological Supply Company for 15 years and then determined that he owed it to Joan to travel the world together, enjoy riding his motorcycle, golfing, tennis, playing bridge, and spending time with the grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his daughter Theresa (2004) & grandson Robby (2021). He leaves behind his wife, Joan, Son, Rick, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at Hyde Park Methodist Church, 500 w Platt St Tampa FL, 33606

15 December at 1:00 PM