Richard R. Carlson

He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1950 and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952. When his father died in 1954, Dick was granted honorable discharge to help his ailing mother. Dick received his Bachelors degree from the University of MA in 1958.

In 1959, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. hired Dick as a claims adjuster. He married his wife, Ginny, in Enfield, CT in 1961.

Dick received his JD degree from Western New England School of Law and was admitted to the MA bar in 1969.

Dick’s law practice moved his wife and two children to Longmeadow, MA in 1970. He was a court-appointed public defender of Hampden County Juvenile Court, elected legal advisor for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf, taught criminal justice at Springfield Tech, and was an active coach for Ray and Debbie’s athletic teams.

His two children attending college in Florida encouraged Dick and Ginny to move to Florida in December 1984. Dick continued his work as legal coordinator for FL Federal S&L.

Dick is survived by his loving and caring spouse of 49 years, Ginny; son, Raymond of Parker, CO; daughter, Debbie Whittle (Mark) of Jacksonville, FL; three grandchildren, Christa, Morgan, and Chase; and great-granddaughter, Cambree.

The family would like to thank Consulate Healthcare and Community Hospice for their wonderful care and support of the family.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 pm today at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Ave. Funeral services will be held 11 am Monday at the funeral home chapel with military honors at Jacksonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation. 904-731-3752