Richard Peter Belden Jr.

Richard Peter Belden, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on March 24, 2016 in his home
of a heart attack. He was born on January 29, 1948 in Chicago, IL
to Florence and Richard Belden. Soon thereafter the family relocated to Los Angeles
where Richard grew up with his younger brother John. He attended Los Angeles
public schools, graduating from University High School in 1965. Richard received a
congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated
in 1969. Immediately following the Academy, he attended UCLA and earned his
MBA in 1970. He entered Air Force Navigator training in Sacramento, CA and upon
completion served first as a navigator in the RF4C reconnaissance aircraft in South
Carolina and then as a navigator in C-130 airplanes in Okinawa where he flew many
missions in Southeast Asia including the evacuation of Saigon. He separated from
the Air Force as a captain in 1975 and returned to Los Angeles where he passed the
CPA exam on his first attempt and then worked for several different companies in
the financial realm. In 1989, Richard relocated to Mercer Island, WA and began
work as a commercial realtor, a profession that he thoroughly enjoyed until his
retirement.
Richard loved to cook and entertain family and friends in his beautiful home. He
thoroughly enjoyed travelling throughout the U.S. and internationally with his
friends and family. His map collection was extensive and he had only two states yet
to visit. He had encyclopedic knowledge of the world and he made it to the final cut
on the Jeopardy Show.
He was a life member of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates and a
founding member of the Puget Sound Chapter.
He is remembered as a warm, funny, generous friend, brother and uncle by
everyone who was fortunate enough to be in his life.
He is survived by his one sibling, Dr. John Belden of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, sister-in-law
Anne Belden, nephew Zach and niece Lydia, plus a multitude of close friends
who adored him.