Richard Alexander Bleakley

Richard was born on November 6, 1952, to Robert E. and Amy C. Glenn Bleakley in Girard, Kansas. He spent most of his younger years in Portales, New Mexico, with his five siblings: Robert, James, Barbara, Sandra, and Chrissie. As a child, he enjoyed playing football.

On February 14, 1973, Richard married Kyong Ok Kim at the U.S. State Department in Seoul, Korea. Together, they had two children: Sun Yi and Kimberly.

SFC Bleakley retired from the United States Army after 20 years of service. Following his military career, he continued his dedication to the armed forces through civil service with the Department of Defense until 2019. Among his military honors, Richard received:

Meritorious Service Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon

National Defense Service Ribbon

Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award)

Army Achievement Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster)

In his adulthood, Richard enjoyed playing golf and fishing. He loved traveling, especially to Hawaii and Spain. His favorite pets were his dogs: Washi, a Shiba Inu, and Paco, a Chihuahua.

Richard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kyong, on January 26, 2014; his parents; and his sister, Barbara Townsend. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters: Sun Yi (John) Scott and Kimberly Bleakley-Sias (Tomas); grandchildren: Mishe’ C. Scott, Teliya J. Scott, Mia E. Sias, and Tomas A. Sias; and siblings: Robert Bleakley, James Bleakley, Sandra Gearhart, and Chrissie Butt.

Services for Richard will be held at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home, 1615 South Fort Hood Street, Killeen, Texas 76542, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, beginning with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Crawford Bowers, and interment with full military honors will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 Highway 195, Killeen, Texas 76542.

The family requests yellow flowers be used for any floral tributes offered.