Richard Willis MacComb, 82, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, passed on Oct. 22 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born March 1, 1931 in Saugus, Mass., a son of Willis and Edna Bailey MacComb.
He graduated from Bridge Academy in Dresden, and the Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, serving in Korea at the 38th parallel line.
Richard had been employed by MIT at Lincoln Labs, assisting Harvard with a special project on a telescope which encouraged his interest in the solar system. He worked for NASA at their rocket launch site in Wallops, Va. before transferring to the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration from which he retired in 1992 after 22 years of service.
Richard had moved from Pocomoke City, Md. in 1996 to Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He attended the Goodwill Baptist Church in Pocomoke City where he served as treasurer for 28 years and as a trustee. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Ohio until his death.
He was predeceased by his son, James MacComb; and sister, Mildred MacComb.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Belva Whitaker MacComb of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; daughter, Janice Overholt and husband Christopher of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; grandsons, John and Ian Overholt; and cousins, Cathy Gero and husband Alfred, and Roy MacGee III.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2 p.m., Fri., Nov. 1 at the family lot in the Alna Cemetery in Alna, with his long time friend the Rev. Bruce Alexander officiating.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to the First Baptist Church Maintenance, 303 So. Edgewood Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050, or to the Windsor Church Ladies Aid, Sanctuary Remodeling, c/o Priscilla Clark, 228 Coopers Mills Rd., Windsor, ME 04363.
