Obituary of Richard Ray Stewart

Richard R. Stewart, of Neversink, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was 84.

He was the son of the late Otto Stewart and Sarah Morton Stewart, born on March 9, 1933 in Livingston Manor, NY.

Richard was a dedicated American, he enlisted in the Army in Albany, NY when he was 17 years old and served from 1951 until 1953. During his time in the Army, Richard traveled the world starting at Fort Devans in Massachusetts where he was processed, then went on to basic training with the 1st Armored Division at Ford Hood in Texas and Fort Polk in LA as a Tank Crewman. He continued on to ranger training and jump school at Fort Benning in Georgia then was sent to Fort Stoneman in California to be shipped out to the Far East on the USS General Gordon. His education in the military continued when he went to Camp Gifu in Japan for Chemical, Biological and Radiological School. He made his was to Korea and entered the 89th Tank Battalion then was transferred to the 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolf Hounds), 8th Army Fire Brigade , 25th Division. He was wounded in Kumwha (Sand Bag Castle) on November 18, 1952, suffering from a Zone Interior hit to the head caused by enemy artillery rounds. He went from patrol in No Mans Land to Battalion Aid then rode a landing skid of a chopper to a MASH Unit. He received his last rights 3 times between Battalion Aid and MASH Unit. They transported him to Osaka Army Hospital in Japan to be stabilized for a trip home, by now he was 19 years old. He flew on a Modified C47 with 30 stretcher patients destined for Pearl Harbor, during the trip the plane took a lightning hit during a tropical storm and knocked out all communications, the pilot and crew "flew by the seat of their pants", they did not know where they were, they were low on fuel and then the crew announced that they could see Tiny Midway Island, one engine quit before landing and the other engine quit on touch down, they stayed on the island for 3 days to stabilize their patients. His trip home included a 2 day stop in Trippler Military Hospital in Pearl Harbor, then transportation to The Presidio Hospital in California over to Fort Campbell in Kentucky and a stop in Valley Forge Hospital in Phoenixville, PA. He eventually made way to New York City where one specialist took one look at him and walked away then a specialist brought in from Germany decided he could help. Richard was told by the doctor that his left eye was gone and there was a 50/50 chance of sight for the right eye, and his hearing was gone in the left ear, but he opted for the surgery anyway and it was successful. Once he was stabilized, he was sent home to Liberty for recuperation and was finally discharged from the military on April 30, 1953 one month after turning 20 years old with permanent disability retirement, his trip home took 5 months. During his time in the Army Richard earned many honors and medals including a Purple Heart, three service medals, two bronze medals and two Letters of Commendation. After he came back home he continued to be very involved in military related organizations, particularly in Veteran's Organizations all of which he was a life member of, some of the organizations he was involved in were the US Army Ranger Association, Inc., 82nd Airborne Division Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans and Wolfhound Pack, just to name a few.

Richard met and married the love of his life, Barbara, whom he was married to for 55 years. He worked for Tri-Valley Central School where he was a custodian for 14 years. On November 24, 2003, at the age of 70 he received his High School Diploma from Liberty High School at a Board of Education meeting.

In his free time he was an avid hunter and fisherman, he also enjoyed working on cars. He was known to always be available when anyone needed help. He was a true countryman who loved his flag which had big meaning to him, he knew how to be a true American and everyone loved him for it.

Richard leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife Barbara; his children: David Stewart and his wife Kelly of Loch Sheldrake and Anne Stewart-Marmorstein and her fiancé Michael Willis of Loch Sheldrake; his inherited son David Pettis of Spokane, WA; his grandchildren: Zachary, Dominic, Chloe, Kyle and Jessica; sisters Rita VanEtten of Liberty and Isabelle Tuttle of Livingston Manor as well as several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brothers Stanley, Russell, Donald, Robert and Leonard.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Richard's name can be made to the Neversink Ambulance Corps.

The family would like to extend their most heartfelt thanks to the members of the Neversink Ambulance Corps for going above and beyond with the care and love they showed to their father and family during this most difficult time.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 5th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 6th at 11am at the funeral home. Rev. Walter Haff will officiate. Burial will follow at Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty, NY with full military honors.

Arrangements under the direction of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, for further information call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com