Richard Jamison Beggs was born Nov. 4, 1919, in Greensburg, Pa., to Robert Clark Beggs and Helen Coleman Beggs. He learned auto mechanics working in his father’s garage as a boy. In 1936 he joined the Army and was sent to Hawaii for training. Dick spent all of World War II in the South Pacific, heading up maintenance facilities. After the war he stayed on to serve in Germany and Korea, retiring in 1957 as a Chief Warrant Officer.

After several different retirement careers Dick graduated from Butte College in California in 1973 with a degree in respiratory therapy. He often said the 12 years he spent working in hospitals in California, South Carolina and Oregon were the best work he ever did.

Dick was a member of Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis, brothers William of Florida and Harry of South Carolina, sons Richard, of San Francisco, Edward of Oakland, Robert of Oakland, Michael of Santa Rosa, Calif., Timothy of Seattle, and Jonathan, of Kapchorwa, Uganda; daughter Susan Beggs-Putkowska of McKinleyville, Calif.; and step-children Paula Parks of Portland, Ore., and Gerald Griffith of Fairfax, Va; five grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, two sisters, and two grandchildren, Samantha Beggs and Lance Beggs.

A memorial service will be held at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church on Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m.