Richard O’ Skidmore, 83, of Oak Harbor, passed away at Whidbey General Hospital March 12, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Agnes, his son Steve Skidmore of Knoxville, Tenn., and his daughters Cindy Richards of Loveland, Colo., Sharon Lee of Simpsonville, S.C., and Charlene Wright of Sedro-Woolley. One son is deceased — Rick Skidmore.

Richard was born in Hot Springs, N.M., Dec. 1, 1922, to Frank and Tottie Skidmore. He believed strongly in service to our country and stayed true to those beliefs when he joined the Navy in June 1941. He was in Hawaii aboard the USS New Orleans during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later served aboard the USS Appling, an amphibious attack ship, where he took part in numerous South Seas amphibious operations. A few of them included: New Guinea, Philippines, Okinawa and Nagasaki, Japan with Marine occupation forces. Skidmore was present during the atom bomb test at Bikini Atoll. After an honorable discharge, he again returned to active duty during the Korean Conflict where he sailed the waters off North Korea aboard the USS McDermot.

In civilian life Richard worked many years for National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., in San Diego, as a corrosion engineer. He was also a partner in a construction company in Fort Collins, Colo.

Richard has never forgotten his many friends and shipmates — both past and present. He has made trips back to Hawaii for Pearl Harbor survivor reunions. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7392 in Oak Harbor and a member of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch No. 97, as well as the American Legion.

A memorial and reception will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at the VFW post at 3037 Goldie Road in Oak Harbor. Friends are welcome.