His parents, Francis J. and Nettie F. (Dodge) LeClair proudly welcomed their son into the world on September 13, 1923 in Keene.
Richard proudly served his country as a Machinist Mate First Class in the Navy during World War II as well as during the Korean War. During WWII. Richard served onboard the USS General A.E. Anderson and was onboard at the time of one of the ship’s most famous voyages, returning the POW survivors from the Death March of Bataan after the raid at Cabanatuan. The USS General A.E. Anderson departed Hollandia, New Guinea carrying 489 POWS. It traveled a longer route due to threats from the Japanese, arriving in San Francisco on March 8, 1945, amid great fanfare and a band playing “Don’t Fence Me In”.
Mr. LeClair worked as an electrician for over 30 years, first with Hamlet Electric and later starting his own business, LeClair’s Electric.
Richard resided for many years in Swanzey, NH and also for 18 years in Sanibel Island, Florida, during the colder times here in the Northeast.
Being skilled with his hands, Richard spent many hours volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Florida. One of his proudest projects with Habitat for Humanity was when he helped build homes on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.
Richard will be greatly missed by many including his son, Barry LeClair and his wife, Doris, of Keene; two grandchildren, Amy Reville and her husband, Robert, of Northfield, Ohio, and Tim LeClair and his wife, Kirstin, of Gilbert, Arizona; four grandchildren, Mason Reville, Madisyn Reville, Julie LeClair, Cameron LeClair; a sister, Geraldine Healy of California; and eleven nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Shirley M. (Waite) LeClair, in 1987, and a brother, Robert LeClair.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11:00AM in the Mountain View Cemetery, Old Homestead Highway (Route 32), Swanzey.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. LeClair’s memory to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431-0564; or to the Honor Flight of New England, PO Box 16287, Hooksett, NH 03106, to afford other’s the opportunity to take a special flight to Washington, DC honoring veterans, a flight that Richard was able to share with his son, Barry, a memory that meant so much to both of them.
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