RICHARD HENRY SHORT's Obituary
Obituary of LCDR Richard “Dick” Henry Short, USN, Retired LCDR Richard “Dick” Henry Short, USN, Retired, age 83, a great Christian leader and gentleman of Castro Valley, went to heaven on January 25, 2014. He passed away after a recent fall. Dick was born in Flint, Michigan, in May 1930 to the late Carl O. and Alice L. Short. Dick spent his childhood in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he graduated from Ypsilanti High School. He is predeceased by both his brothers, Carl E. Short and G. Daniel Short. He is survived by his wife, Doris E. Short, whom he met and fell in love with in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1949. They were married less than six weeks after meeting and have remained in love for over 64 years. Dick enlisted in the Navy in July 1948. After boot camp at Great Lakes Navy Training Center he transferred to Naval Training Center, Memphis, Tennessee, to be an Airborne Electronics Technician. He was assigned to the USS Philippine Sea. His life was changed on that aircraft carrier when he was led to Christ by another sailor. He continued his naval career as an enlisted sailor until he was selected for a college degree program and accepted to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. During his third year at Purdue, Dick was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. After his graduation with his electrical engineering degree, the Navy stationed Dick in Rota, Spain; National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland; Monterey Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, and Alameda, California. Dick retired as a Lieutenant Commander from the United States Navy in 1971 while living in San Leandro. He was ready to settle down and spend more time with his family. At that time he was worshiping at Fairhaven Bible Chapel. He volunteered to be part of the Bay Area Billy Graham team that was responsible for the follow-up work for Fairhaven and several other small churches in the area. Later he worshiped his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at Valley Bible Church in Pleasanton. After retiring he also worked for several corporations and ultimately started his own consulting service, Defense Electronic Studies and Analysis (DESA). He consulted mostly with the U. S. Navy and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1975 he moved the family to Castro Valley to be closer to Redwood Christian School (RCS), the school his youngest son was attending. In 1978, he was asked to serve on the RCS Board and continued as a Board Member for more than 35 years – almost 25 of those years as the Chairman of the Board. He loved the RCS community and felt blessed to be a part of it. He especially valued the friendship and fellowship of Bruce Johnson and Gus Enderlin. Dick was an avid member of the Castro Valley Rotary Club, serving as its President in 2007-2008. Dick was a good friend to many and a happy man who delighted in his faith, in learning, in children, his fruit trees, his animals and his home. He loved God, his family and his nation with a fierce loyalty. His family is grateful to all who visited and kept him in their prayers. Dick’s family also thanks KJ Page, who was a gift from God and Dick’s advocate as she guided his family with love and expert knowledge of the world of hospital and rehabilitation care during Dick’s final days. Dick is survived by “the greatest wife a man could ever expect,” Doris E. Short, of Castro Valley, and his children, Deedra A. (Bob) Pedersen, Boise, Idaho; Daniel E. Short, Castro Valley; Donna J. (Tim) Dobbs, Hayward; LtCol Dale E. (Kim) Short, USMC, Drayden, Maryland and Beth (Todd) Teyler, Billings, Montana. He is survived by his grandson Bo Teyler, Castro Valley, who always pleased his Grandpa by handling, with a smile, whatever was asked of him. Dick is survived by 12 more grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Our loss is truly Heaven’s gain. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 29, 2014, 4:30-9:00 PM, at The Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Blvd., Hayward, in the Mission Chapel. Military Funeral Honors Ceremony and burial will be Thursday, January 30, 2014, 11:30 AM, at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, CA. (The cemetery is 27 miles southwest of Sacramento along Interstate 80 between Vacaville and Dixon. From the East Bay area, connect with I80-E; after you go past Vacaville take Midway Road/Lewis Road exit. Slight right on Midway Road. The main cemetery entrance will be on the right in about a mile.) A Memorial Celebration of Dick’s life will be Friday, January 31, 2014, 11:00 AM at Redwood Chapel Community Church, 19300 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. A reception will follow in the Heritage Room. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Redwood Christian Schools, 4200 James Avenue, Castro Valley, CA 94546
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