Richard John Farmer

Richard was born in Charleston, SC on September 16, 1917 to Charles and Marie Farmer. He moved with his parents and two brothers to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for several years until they moved back to the United States and settled in Pensacola, Florida where he attended Pensacola High School. Richard relished growing up in Pensacola where he enjoyed the beautiful beaches and water. He would return often to vacation in the panhandle of Florida. After graduating from high school Richard attended Clemson A & M College, which is now Clemson University in Clemson, SC. He excelled in both academics and sports where he swam for the varsity swim team and was a member of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” and was elected as a member of the Tau Beta Pi Alpha Chapter of South Carolina, the nation’s oldest and only engineering honor society. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a commission in the Army as a First Lieutenant in 1938. Richard joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation upon graduation from Clemson until the Army activated his commission in the summer of 1941. During World War II he served his country as a Signal Corps officer in San Francisco, CA where he met the love of his life and married Patricia (Pat) Mary Moser in 1942. After the war they moved to Birmingham, AL to resume his career with Westinghouse. He continued his military service in the Army Reserve and retired in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Dick and Pat raised seven children and lived in various cities in both Alabama and Georgia. They moved to Sandy Springs in 1966 where Dick was an executive for Westinghouse until retirement in 1979. Dick and Pat were long time members of Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta. Both were avid golfers and enjoyed dancing at the club for many years before and after retirement. Dick would never forget the first time he had a “hole-in-one” at the club which he always loved recounting. After retirement they discovered the joy of cruising and toured many countries around the world.

Richard was a devout Catholic and long-time parishioner of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs.

His wife Patricia in 1999, his son Thomas in 2005 and his two brothers Charles and Robert Farmer precede him in death.

Dick is survived by his son Richard (Terri) Farmer of Douglasville; son James (Carol) Farmer of Cumming; daughter Patricia Farmer of Sandy Springs; son Michael (Pam) Farmer of Asheville, NC; daughter Susan Farmer of Sandy Springs; and daughter Kathleen (Bud) Gregory of Cumming, thirteen grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 13 from 6:00-8:00 PM, (Rosary 7:30 PM) at H.M. Patterson & Son – Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30328.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor W. Joseph Corbett on Wednesday, June 14 at 10:00 AM at Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

Interment will take place immediately following Mass at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Hwy., Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

A reception for family and friends will take place following interment in the Stapleton Center at Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church.