Ralph Daniel Richardson Ii

R. Dan Richardson II passed away last week in Salem, VA. Dan was born in North Carolina and moved with his family to Washington DC during WWII. He was co-captain of the Coolidge High School football team with his best friend Jim Austin. After graduating, Dan and Jim joined the Navy and served together during the Korean War. After their Naval Service, Jim married Dans sister Emily which provided the foundation for a 60 friendship and family bond. Dan and Jim were avid sailors and spent much time sailing their beloved Chesapeake Bay well into their 70s. After the Navy, Dan earned a BA in History from George Washington University and a Masters and Ph.D. in History at the University of Maryland while laying brick during summers to support himself. During this time Dan met the love of his life and future wife Mary Alyce Barber, and they were married in 1962. This union produced three children, R. Daniel III, Kathleen, and Matthew, and seven grandchildren, Karl, Kaye, Daniel, Ryan, Rachel, Hannah, and Sam. While finishing his dissertation, Dan became a college professor at Roanoke College in 1967, and was a very popular professor as he taught hundreds of students through a career that lasted 30 years including a long tenure as Chairman of the Roanoke College History Department. During his academic career Dan become a recognized expert on European military history from medieval times through WWII, and published many articles and a seminal book on the Spanish Civil war. Dan will be remembered as a very intelligent, strong, and simple man, whose main goals in life were to live with honor and dignity, to love, support, and raise his family to be independent and strong adults, and to spend any free time he had sailing the Chesapeake Bay with his friends and family. By any measure Dan achieved these goals during his long life and will always be remembered with great love and admiration by the family, friends, and students who had the privilege to know him. Services will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com. The Richardson family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441.Interment Location

Sherwood Memorial Park

1250 East Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153