SPRINGFIELD (Va.) — Richard Allen Wise, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Springfield, Va., on Monday, March 28, 2022. He was a native of Concord, Va., who lived in Hampton for over 60 years. Richard was a 27-year employee of Newport News Shipbuilding who started as an apprentice and retired as an electrical supervisor. He had also tinkered with television and pinball machine repair at George’s Record Shop in Phoebus, VA. Richard served the Commonwealth as a member of the Virginia National Guard from 1955 to 1982 in C Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class and retired as the Chief of Firing Battery (“Smoke”). Additionally, Richard also found time to earn a private pilot’s license. He was a great cook who enjoyed preparing meals for family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. For over 50 years, he and his son were members of the Independent Hunt Club in King William County, VA. He was always up for a friendly game of cards there, usually winning, and always making a show of jangling his coins in an old cake tin.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Charlotte Theresa (Sowers) Wise and his beloved son, Joseph Allen Wise. He is survived by his daughter, Theresa Wise Perkins (Roy); son, Ronnie Dale Collins (Kim) and daughter, Dana Collins Stutts (Frank) as well as 3 Grandchildren; 2 Great-Grandchildren and his sister, Helen Wise Elliott of Concord, VA.
The family will host a visitation on Friday, April 1, 2022, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Weymouth Funeral Home in Newport News, VA. Burial will be Private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Richard to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at https://secure.cbf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1502&mfc_pref=T&1502.donation=form1.