Richard James Andrews

Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. “Andy” Andrews, age 91, United States Air Force (Ret) passed away peacefully of complications following gallbladder surgery, on 18 March 2013 at Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Clear Lake, Texas.

Known to family and friends as both “Andy” and “Dick”, he was born in Leominster, Massachusetts on 9 November 1921, the ninth of 16 brothers and sisters.

Preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Mary Anita (Passmore) Andrews on 1 January 1992; Parents John Joseph and Mary Elsie (Hart) Andrews; Brothers John Francis, Charles Bernard, Robert Edward, Leo Eugene, George Thomas and wife Ruth Scollen; Sisters Arlene Anna Brooks and husband Edward, Madeline Elsie Spacciapoli and husband Domenic, Mary Barbara Mavente and husband Richard, Eleanor May Terwiski, Margaret Grace, Jane Marie, Evelyn Marie, Beatrice Burns and Rita Gauthier.

Andy was a WW II and Korean War combat veteran. During WW II, he was the lead B-17 Flying Fortress Bombardier/Navigator with the 614th Bombardment Squadron, 401st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force flying 30 missions supporting the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from Station 128, Deenethrope, England from November 1943 until end of the war in April 1945. During the Korean War he flew six combat missions as a Senior Bombadier/Navigator with the 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force from Yokota, Air Base, Japan from June 1950, until wounded in action on 6 July 1950.

He later went on to complete a 20-year Air Force career retiring in September 1962 as a Missile Defense Operations Officer assigned to Minot, Air Force Base, North Dakota.

During his distinguished career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC); Air Medal with four OLC; Purple Heart; the American Campaign Medal; the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four Battle Stars; the WW II Victory Medal; the European Army of Occupation Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with Battle Star; and seven campaign medals including the United Nations Korea Service Medal, Chinese-Nationalist Air Force and the Republic of Korea War Service Medals.

Upon completion of his Air Force career, Andy served for 21 years as a Mission Support Officer, Mission Support Planning and Analyst Division, National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) located at the Johnson Space Center, Clear Lake, Texas. His responsibilities included supporting 26 manned space craft missions beginning with the Gemini Missions 3 thru 12; Apollo Missions 7 thru 18; Skylab Missions 2-4; and Space Shuttles Columbia, Challenger, Atlantis and Discovery, Space Transport System Missions before retiring with 41 years of combined Federal Service in September 1988.

An active member of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church for 46 years, Andy was active in numerous social and fraternal organizations including: the Knights of Columbus Council #3077; Alhambra Council #61; Life member of the 401st Bombardment Group Association; Disabled American Veterans Association, Korean War Veterans Association. Member, of VFW Post 4395, American Legion Post 490, 8th Air Force Association, the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and Lone Star Flight Museum.

Survivors include his loving companion of 19 years Marie Disalvatore, Conroe TX, Son Colonel John H. Andrews, U.S. Army (RET) and wife Diane Marie (Skrocki) of Lorton, Virginia; Mary Margaret Pinkerton and Husband Major Mark D. Pinkerton, US Army (RET) Yorktown, Virginia; Teresa Ann Antonini and husband Michael J. Antonini, Friendswood, Texas; James R. Andrews and wife Melissa (Meehan), Deer Park, Texas; Sister Grace N. Kearney, Leominster, Massachusetts; and brother in law Master Sergeant Cletis (Lee) Terwiski, U.S. Army (Ret), Hudson, MA.

Grandfather of Major Holly Hermes, U.S. Air Force, husband Doctor Eric Hermes and daughter Caroline Marie, New Haven, Connecticut; Major Kristi Morris, U.S. Army and husband J.T. Morris, Alexandria, Virginia; David Andrews and wife Kelley Andrews. Napoleon, North Dakota; Mark D. Pinkerton Jr., Yorktown, Virginia, Michael J. Antonini II; and Elizabeth A. Rabon, husband Caleb Rabon and son, Graham Michael, Friendswood, Texas; Richard J. Andrews II and Kathryn J. Andrews, Deer Park, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.

Andy will always be remembered by family and friends as enjoying life the activities of his family and grandchildren, as he was always ready to go wherever they wished, while enjoying golf & his friends of the Executive Hunting Club.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 3:00-7:OO PM with a rosary at 6:00 PM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris Street, Bellaire Texas, 77401.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, 23 March 2013, 10:00 AM, at Saint Christopher Catholic Church, 8150 Park Place Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77017. Rite of Committal will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Avenue, Houston, Texas 77023.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in care of LTC (RET) R.J. Andrews to Saint Christopher Catholic Church and School, the Saint Vincent De Paul Society or a charity of choice.