More detail on this person: My beloved husband
died in my arms with Michael at his side on
September 28, 2011 in Houston, TX, after fighting
a battle with esophageal cancer. He had a
wonderful life filled with many friends and
family. He spent his early childhood years growing
up in Los Alamos, NM, where he played baseball,
football, went camping, and belonged to cub
scouts. After his senior graduation he worked for
J. Edgar Hoover as a keypunch operator, the story
goes that all of the girls did the hard key punch
cards and left him the easy ones. From there he
was drafted into the army, where he found another
family, the Ghost Riders of A Co./158th AHB/101st
Airborne Div out of Camp Evans. He earned the
callsign Sandy from his fellow Ghost Riders. He
flew Huey helicopters front line during his tour
in Vietnam and flew at Ripcord, a 23 day battle
between the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and
the North Vietnamese Army from July 1, 1970 until
July 23, 1970. Rick received the Distinguished
Flying Cross twice, the Bronze Star and several
other medals including many air medals. He also
took part in Lam Son 719 in early 1971.
After his military service, he received a college
degree in Aeronautical Science at Southeastern
Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK, where we
met and married August 21, 1976. After college, he
moved to Santa Fe, NM, and immediately started
flying fixed wing airplanes. He flew Convair 580s
with Aspen Airways out of Denver, CO, and
Burbank, CA. Denver is where we were blessed with
our son Michael on Feb 19, 1980. As a newborn,
Rick would lay Michael on a pillow beside him, and
watch TV sitting on the floor. I think he watched
Michael sleep more than watch TV. Furloughs at
Aspen Airways returned him to Santa Fe once
again, this time to fly for TNT Investments, where
he added new friends and family, it was a job he
treasured always. In 1985, Rick went to work for
America West Airlines, now US Airways, and flew
as a captain. Again he added friends that would
become part of his family. In November of 2004 we
moved to Chandler, AZ, and added more friends and
more family. Then we moved to Lavernia, TX, where
we were preparing for retirement, then came
cancer, he fought this battle with grace, dignity,
and determination. And as typical with Rick, he
never lost his sense of humor, or his upbeat
attitude, he continued life with a smile on his
face and laughter in his heart, always looking
forward. And to quote him it is what it is. Rick
Shores was a true inspiration to me, and I was
blessed to have him in my life for 35 plus years.
He was my best friend, and the love of my life.
And although I will miss his stimulating
conversations, I will miss holding his hand as we
fell asleep.
He had a total of 42 years of flying and had many
special experiences. Once, while flying back from
Mexico, he saw the space shuttle preparing for a
night landing only 11 minutes away in Florida, he
also saw the Northern Lights in Alaska, and
countless of other unique phenomena.
Rick was born in Oklahoma City, OK, July 12,
1949. And he is preceded in death by his parents,
Joseph Daniel Shores and Beulah (Boots) Fern
Houston Shores.
Rick left behind his wife, Charlotte; son,
Michael; two brothers, Joseph Shores of Augusta,
GA, and John Shores of Mustang, OK, and one
sister, Jacquelyn Shores Cartmell of Ada, OK.
Rick's ashes will be spread over the mountains he
loved and once called home. We all will miss you,
my love.
Charlotte
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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