Richard Milton Berry's Obituary
Richard Milton Berry of Fredericksburg passed away at Mary Washington Hospital on October 17, 2010 at the age of 90.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Nettie Carver Berry; his parents, Caroline and Henry Berry of Connecticut; one brother, Robert Berry of Florida; and one sister, Nancy Carabillo of Connecticut.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 12, 1919 and grew up in Upstate New York and Long Island.
He graduated from Syracuse University with a BS in Forestry in 1941. In 1943, he joined the US Army Air Corps and served in the occupation forces and then assisted in the rebuilding of the Japanese forestry industry. His military service continued as a member of the US Army Reserve, Corps of Engineers in Northern Virginia. He retired in 1979 at the rank of Colonel.
After his active service in the US Army, he earned a MS in Forestry at the University of Michigan. He joined the Arkansas Department of Forestry and then the US Forestry Service in Atlanta and had various assignments in South Carolina. He ultimately became a member of the staff at Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina.
During one of his early assignments, he met and married Nettie Carver Burton in Clemson, SC. They lived in McClellanville and Summerville, SC before moving to Fredericksburg in 1962, where he became Director of Natural Resources at Quantico Marine Corps Base, retiring in June 1985 after 36 years of service.
He was on the Stafford County Planning Commission during his early years in Fredericksburg.
He was always a very active person and loved the outdoors, nature and his family, enjoying trips throughout the US to visit family members. Reading and solving crossword and sudoko puzzles was a daily passion, and he enjoyed eating colorful food, especially desserts. He loved to visit the YMCA several times per week and was swimming laps regularly into his 80’s.
He is survived by his children, Mary Patricia Hamlet of Fredericksburg, VA, Shirley Beth Brotherton of Kimberton, PA, Sandra Lynn Burton and Susan Jane Hayward, both of Stafford, VA, Richard H. Berry of Morehead, KY, Nancy D. E. B. Fouche’ of Woodbridge, VA, and Kenneth Jesse Berry of Falmouth and 10 grandchildren, Michelle Hamlet DeMent, Tammie Hamlet Sarvey and Victoria Hamlet Roberts, all of Fredericksburg, VA, Andrew Brotherton of Easton, CT, John Vergeres of Lovettesville, VA, Stephanie Storck of Lebanon, PA, Jamie Storck of Stafford, VA, Michael Storck of Fredericksburg, VA, and Jessica Fouche’ and Cameron Fouche’, both of Woodbridge, VA.
Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren, Katherine DeMent and Alexandra DeMent, both of Richmond, VA, Madeline Roberts and Jake Roberts, Caroline Michelle Sarvey and Hannah Victoria Sarvey, all of Fredericksburg, VA, Ashton Hayden of Stafford, VA, Carrisa Vergeres and Thomas Vergeres, both of Lovettesville, VA, and Emma Brotherton of Easton, CT. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews around the country.
He was a member of The Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg, VA and enjoyed singing in the choir.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 11:00 am at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels-Cremation Service, 10719 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg with the Rev. Allen H. Fisher, Jr. officiating. Inurnment will be held Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 11:00 am in Quantico National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058, the American Indian Education Foundation, P.O. Box 27491, Albuquerque, NM 87125 or to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014.
Online condolences may be expressed to his family at foundandsons.com.
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