More detail on this person: While on safari in Africa in the `90s, Col. (Ret.) Richard A. Lilly sat in a Range Rover and looked out at a pride of lions just 15 feet away. His first wife had just died, and years later in an email, he would tell his family, "I thought how much she would have enjoyed this. And how we had put it off, `saving for a rainy day.' I try not to do that anymore. Use the good china and linen, have dessert, and enjoy the day." And over 90 years on this Earth, he certainly practiced what he preached. Dick was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Glenburn and Helen Lilly. He would be joined by two younger sisters over the next two decades, Sandra and Rachel. After graduating from Soldan High School, he attended St. Benedict's College in Atchison, Kan., and graduated magna cum laude. Later, he would attend the New York Institute of Technology in Orlando, Fla. for his MBA. In St. Louis, he worked at McDonnell Aircraft and he met one of his lifelong friends, Edgar Dippold. During a game of baseball, Dip introduced him to his girlfriend's younger sister, Betty Lou. A bit of a rebel herself, she enjoyed being picked up for dates on the back of Dick's motorcycle and the two were married in August 1954. Dip married Betty's sister, Lee, and the two were not just friends but brothers-in-law. Dick was drafted into the Army in February 1953, the beginning of an illustrious, three-decade-long military career. He moved Betty and their four children _ Stephen, Richard, Sherry and Douglas _ across the country from base to base, including a posting in Germany. He also served in combat zones, doing a tour of duty in the Congo in 1961/62 and two tours in Vietnam in 1963/64 and 1967/68, surviving his helicopter being shot down multiple times. He retired from the military in June 1984 with the rank of colonel and a host of medals such as the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with V Device, 34 Oak Leaf Clusters and many more. Dick and Betty's family grew to include 10 grandchildren, who would spend their summers visiting their home in Port Charlotte. They would feed hotdogs to Fast Eddy the egret and Ol' Blue the Great Blue Heron, fight over Cindy Lou the doll, as well as go fishing off the dock (where many a shoe was lost to the canal). In his retirement, he learned how to sail and became a boat captain, chartering guests through Florida and the Caribbean. After all, if it had an engine, he wanted to learn how to drive it. He cared for his wife Betty for a year before she succumbed to cancer in 1992. Recovering from the tragic loss, he took off on a whirlwind tour of the globe, including visiting his children in Burma, Germany, and all over the United States. It was while on safari in Africa that he vowed to enjoy each day and not wait for special occasions to celebrate. Through his travels, he met a woman at the AAA desk named Geraldine Sousa _ the two shared a love of new experiences and dated for many years before getting married in Maine in 2002. Together, they drove their motorhome around the country and also flew around the world checking off countries on their "to visit" list. Geraldine died from cancer in July 2022, and he followed five months later from complications stemming from cancer. He celebrated his 90th birthday, having lived a life of service, adventure, and laughs. Dick is survived by his two sisters Sandy Sayre and Rachel Modglin; four children, Stephen Lilly of Florida, Richard (Ava) Lilly of Virginia, Sherry (Kenneth) Steblen of Clayton, New York, and Col. (Ret.) Douglas (Darla) Lilly of Montana; 10 grandchildren Elijah (Mollie) Lilly, Heather (Michael) Arrant, Lauren (Stacey) Steblen, Lindsey (Jeff) Steblen, Kenneth (Jessica) Steblen, Christiana (Jack) Lilly, Angela (Philip) Schenker, Timothy (Julia) Lilly, Tyler (Rachel) Lilly and SPC Tristan Lilly; and 10 great-grandchildren Kole Steblen, Mason and Jordan Arrant, Jake and Shea Steblen, Aidan, Ashlyn and Jaxton Lilly, Bryson and Scarlett Schenker. On days good and bad, take his advice to "enjoy the day." Serve Tuesday dinner on the good china, pop the Champagne just because, and enjoy an after-dinner Manhattan whenever you can. The colonel will be laid to rest in a joint ceremony with his late wife, Geraldine, in a military funeral on March 17, 2023, at the Sarasota National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Disabled American Veterans or Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Burial information: Sarasota National Cemetery
This information was last updated 03/06/2023
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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