Richard E. Hibpshman Jr. passed away in his home Oct. 25, 2014, in Oak Harbor, Wash. He was born May 5, 1948, in Pueblo, Colo., to Richard and Mildred Hibpshman. He was one of nine children. His family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, when he was a teenager. He graduated from West High School in Anchorage in 1966, where he was a state champion wrestler.

Richard enlisted in the United States Navy directly after graduating and left for boot camp in Minnesota in July of 1966. He served from 1966 to 1970, when he met his wife Nelia Ingalla while in port in the Philippines. He took a brief break from the Navy to be home for the birth of his daughter and re-enlisted in 1973, serving proudly as an aircraft mechanic specialist until his retirement as Chief Petty Officer in 1993.

Richard spent most of his “retirement” employed as the Greens Keeper at the The Gallery Golf Course on Whidbey Island.

When not on the golf course, he was fishing, crabbing or could be found enjoying cheer at the Fleet Reserve Association Branch No. 95 and later the VFW Post No. 7392, both of Oak Harbor.

Richard is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nelia, of Oak Harbor; his daughter and her husband, Sandra and David Olson, of Snohomish; his son and his wife, Richard and Megan Hibpshman, of Issaquah; his grandchildren, Isaac, Isabella, Marcus and Isaiah; and his siblings, Kelcy Hibpshman, of Tennessee, Stephen Hibpshman, of Alaska, Barry Hibpshman, of Alaska, Denise Nelson, of New Mexico, and Linda Ellison, of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Linda Lindhartsen and Betty Augirre and brother James Hibpshman.

Services with full military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash.

Please visit Richard’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC., Oak Harbor, Wash.