Richard Thomas Oldham

Born in Detroit Michigan, he was the son of Arthur Lee Oldham and Alyce Riley Oldham. In addition to his parents, one sister, Marjorie O. Smith, and one brother, Kenneth Wayne Oldham preceded him in death.

Richard grew up in St. Louis and graduated from Wellston High School in St Louis County, Missouri in 1939. During high school and college he completed the Salvation Army’s Six Year Course of Prescribed Bible Studies, with the intent of entering the Ministry. He also played first cornet in the Salvation Army Midland Division Band. Richard attended Southeast Missouri State College for two years on a music scholarship, where he played the violin in the school orchestra in lieu of tuition. He enlisted in the Army on December 8th, 1941, volunteering for the Army Air Corps. He trained at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in Victorville, California, and flew in the Pacific Theater, ferrying fighters and bombers to many fronts in the Pacific and flying home wounded soldiers and released prisoners of war. He recalled that he often flew a longer route so that returning soldiers would see the Golden Gate Bridge as they came home to America.

Richard was married to his wife Gladys after he finished flying school in 1942. After the war they returned to St. Louis and he attended Washington University, earning his Bachelor of Science in 1948 and Master of Art in Sociology in 1949. He began teaching at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana but was recalled to active service in 1951. He flew in Korea, transporting airplanes and supplies to the front and returning with wounded soldiers to Japan.

He remained in the Air Force until 1970, when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel attached to the Defense Atomic Support Agency in the Pentagon. He then returned to his former profession, teaching sociology and anthropology at Northern Virginia Community College. He has lived in Lynchburg for the last 13 years.

He is survived by five children, Timothy R. Oldham and his wife Kathleen McKnight of Arlington, Marilyn Oldham and her husband Nicholas S. Fusco of Croton, NY, Keith T. Oldham and his wife Karen Guice of Milwaukee, WI, Dwight S. Oldham and his wife Bobbi of Lynchburg, Mitchell L. Oldham and his wife Nina of Warrenton, and by fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Culpeper National Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. tonight, July 24, 2013 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Salvation Army – Homeless Fund, P.O. Box 2314, Lynchburg, VA 24505.