Richard V. “Dick” Nation Sr., 80, of Sanford, Fla., formerly of Wellsville, passed away at 12:27 p.m. on May 12 at his home.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 20 at the Church of the Resurrection in Wellsville. Father Philip Kane will officiate the services. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Church of the Resurrection Cemetery in Wellsville. Visitation will be from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on May 19 at Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.
Richard Vernon Nation was born on Nov. 2, 1942 to John and Virginia (Grennan) Nation. Dick was a native of Wellsville. He graduated from the Wellsville-Middletown R-1 School District in 1960. He joined the Navy to become an aircraft mechanic and was honorably discharged in 1963. While in the Navy, he married Linda Sue Gregory from Bellflower. They had three sons and two daughters.
In July 1968, Dick was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics from Parks College of St. Louis University. That same year, he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve on completion of the Aviation Officer course in Pensacola, Fla., making his first solo flight at Saufley Field. In 1969, he became a commissioned naval aviation officer. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1971.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1973, Dick returned back to his hometown of Wellsville, attending a number of law enforcement classes and assumed duties as a member of the Wellsville police force at the age of 31.
In 1975, Dick became owner of the Uptown Café in Wellsville, which he and his wife operated for three years. From 1977 to 1979, he assumed the duties of deputy sheriff of Montgomery County under Sheriff John Whyte. In 1979, he was hired as the new administrator of the Hermann Area Ambulance District, where he previously worked part time as an emergency medical technician (EMT). He also was the Chief of Police in Rhineland at the time.
After moving to Florida in the early 1980s, Dick worked for several aviation companies as an aerospace engineer plus formed a company with his brothers and sisters in Wellsville which made aircraft components. Traveling for several years as an aerospace engineering representative for the FAA, Dick was able to spend time in several countries around the world and eventually was able to work from home.
Survivors include his wife Linda; two sons, Richard Nation Jr. (Nicole) of Wellsville, and Philip Nation (Shanda) of Debary, Fla.; two daughters, Torie (Nation) Eckler of Sanford, Fla., and Jacqueline Nation of Sorrento, Fla.; one brother, Robert (Caroline) Nation of Martinsburg; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Nation of Wellsville and Janet Percy of Montgomery City; three brothers-in-law; James Gooch of Wellsville, Charlie (Sandy) Gregory of St. Peters, and Jim (Patty) Clark of Jacksonville, Fla.; 16 grandchildren, Chris (Kelly) Eckler of St. Louis, Kyle (Liz) Eckler of Shawnee, Kan., David (Rachel) Wadkins of Taylorville, Ill., Steven (Sarah) Ecker of Wentzville, Elizabeth Ecker and Jorden Burton of Groveland, Fla., TJ Shaw and Crystal Baker of Sanford Fla., Tommy Shaw and Ashley McCurdy of Louisiana, Ashley Shaw and Shawn Brough of Cape Coral, Fla., Amber Shaw of Sorrento, Fla., Richie (Tammy) Nation of Wentzville, Nickolas Nation of Bowling Green, Tylor Nation of Lake St. Louis, Mackenzie Alsop of Wellsville, Dylan Alsop of Wellsville, Garrett Nation of Debary, Fla. and Kaylin Nation of Debary, Fla.; 25 great-grandchildren, Zoe Collins and Cody Nelson of Stilwell, Kan., Jenna and Paul Eckler of Shawnee, Kan., Alex, Jayden and Jackson Wadkins of Taylorville, Ill., Ethan and Olivia Eckler of Wentzville, Dakota and Lucas Burton of Groveland, Fla., Aubree, Rayden and Jayde Shaw and Danny and Dylan Brock of Sanford, Fla., Abigail and Madison Shaw of Louisiana, Kaleenah Brough of Cape Coral, Fla., Blake and Alexia Livingston of Sorrento, Fla., Arabella and Kaden Clark of Jacksonville, Fla. and Evelynn, Samuel and Michael Nation of Wentzville.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, John and Virginia Nation; one son, Patrick Nation; brothers, John Nation Jr. and J. Donald Nation Sr.; sisters, Joan (Nation) Garufi and Mary (Nation) Gooch; sisters-in-law, Rebecca (Ridenour) Nation and Sandy (Trower) Nation; brothers-in-law, Vince Garufi Jr. and Richard Percy; and two nephews, Vince Garufi III and Clint Percy.
Memorials may be given to the Helen Reagan Cancer Fund. They may be sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 203 E. Bates St., Wellsville, Missouri 63384. Condolences to the family may be given at myersfuneralhome.biz.
