Richard Whittingham Dean

Commander (ret.) Richard “Dick” Whittingham Dean, United States Navy passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at the age of 91 as a result of COVID-19 pneumonia. Commander Dean was born on January 6, 1929 to Edythe Whittingham Dean and Rear Admiral Frank Homewood Dean in Washington, DC and is preceded in death by his sister Eleanor and brother, Frank “Skipper” Dean.

He married Nancy Jane Lovell of Arlington, VA at the Fort Myer Chapel, January 18, 1958 was able to celebrate 50 years of marriage before she passed away on June 4, 2008. Dick is preceded by his son, Frank McKaig Dean and is survived by his sons, COL (USA, ret.) Richard Whittingham Dean II and COL (USA, ret.) Robert Lovell Dean and nieces/nephews, Evan Lovell, John Lovell, Laura Lee Lovell Parizek, Diane Lovell, James Lovell, Eileen Lovell, Guy Leavitt Jr. and Elaine Clark. He is also survived by his companion of over five years, Suzanne Hamilton.

As a Navy brat, Dick was raised on east and west coast ports of the United States and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1951, with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Engineering. Commissioned as an Ensign on June 1, 1951, Commander Dean attended Gunnery School and then was assigned to the destroyer, USS Porter (DD-800) as a gunnery officer and to the staff of the Seventh Fleet during the Korean War. After serving over five years on active duty, Dick transferred to the US Naval Reserves and continued serving for another 22 years in positions of increased responsibility, retiring from the Naval Air Wing at Andrews Air Force Base in 1979. He was awarded the China Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal.

While serving in the Naval Reserve, Dick was employed with the Vitro Corporation, RBC and other defense contractors supporting Naval Air operations, procurement and systems engineering contracts until his retirement.

In retirement, Dick was proud to have served almost 30 years as a Red Cross Volunteer at Bethesda/Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He loved his travels to Europe, Australia, Middle East and the Caribbean. He was a mechanical/electrical wizard and enjoyed tinkering with repairs and home improvement projects. Dick also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 783 and with the Boy Scouts National Capital Area Council Goshen Bears “Desert Crew”.

A small, private graveside service will be held at Gettysburg National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Commander Dean requested a donation be made to the “U.S. Naval Academy Foundation”, Attn: Gift Administration, 274 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402, in check memo area write “CDR Richard Dean, 1951 Who Will I Become Exhibit” or a donation to “Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation”, 950 North Washington Street, Suite 311, Alexandria, VA 22314.