Dick J. Hayden, age 92, died May 28, 2015, at Regency on Whidbey, Harbor Care. He was born Nov. 13, 1922, in Peru, Iowa, to Walter and Myrtle Hayden. Raised on the family farm, Dick was only 17 when he decided to “join the Navy and see the world.”
He didn’t know then that he was beginning a U.S. Navy career that would last nearly 30 years.
A proud WWII veteran, Dick was a plane mechanic aboard the USS Hornet aircraft carrier from her commission date to her sinking at the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942. He watched Doolittle’s Raiders launch from the Hornet on their historic bombing run to Japan. When the Hornet finally went down, Dick was the last man from his squadron to abandon ship. Years later, when asked about his favorite memory of his Navy service, he laughed and replied, “Getting fished out by a destroyer after jumping off of the Hornet!”
While stationed in San Diego in 1943, Dick met a pretty young lady, Jean Blomquist, at a USO dance. They were married in August of 1944 and transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1948 on the first of three assignments to the Island. Over the years, Dick was assigned to various aviation squadrons and retired in 1968 at NAS Whidbey as Squadron Chief of VAH-123. Not one to sit back in retirement, Dick began a second 14-year career with the U.S. Postal Service in Oak Harbor, where he and Jean resided for over 50 years.
As a young man, Dick enjoyed hunting and fishing and playing team sports (volleyball, softball, basketball). Later in life he took up golfing, bowling and square dancing (with Jean). Golf, however, was his true passion, and, once retired, he was usually found at the local Gallery golf course. Dick was a life member of the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge #2362 and was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and Fleet Reserve Association.
Dick is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jean Hayden of Oak Harbor; his daughter, Sandra Rafchiek of Redmond, Wash.; his son, Richard J. Hayden, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Bellevue, Wash.; and his brother, Carroll (Kay) Hayden of St. Charles, Iowa. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Alexander and Anna Hayden; six step-grandchildren and seven step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Randle R. Hayden of Sammamish, Wash.
Funeral services for Dick will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 13, at the graveside at Maple Leaf Cemetery with Chaplain David G. Lura, USNR (Ret) officiating.
Viewing will be held 9 a.m. to noon at Wallin Funeral Home. Following the graveside services, a reception for family and friends will follow at Wallin Funeral Home.
To share memories and condolences, please visit Dick’s page in the Book of Memories hosted at www.wallinfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, WA.
