Richard A. Figueroa's  FINAL FLY BY   --  US Air Force

"Wild Blue Yonder"- US Air Force song
https://youtube.com/watch?v=45mrcsnVmvk&si=MFXlG9CX7-ebMLEE

This paver is on display - AMC Air Museum, Dover AFB, DE  (near the 9-11 Memorial)

Richard “FIG” Figueroa

Friends like FIG, are hard to find.
The friendship of 44 years that we share, was one of a kind.
The memories that we shared, are priceless.

Memorial Day  (Monday 27^th) – late afternoon, I received a phone call from FIG’s son – Ricky.
Since Ricky has never called me, I knew something bad had happened, but never dreamed it
would be the news that I was about to be told.

FIG was found by one of his neighbors, laying in his front yard, deceased.
No one knew how long he laid in the yard. It’s believed, he came outside around midnight,
to check the status of the bad storm that was going on.

The Coroner said, FIG died of a heart attack and it was instant.
This was confirmed, by the way he was laying on the ground.

Richardt “Ricky” Figueroa flew in from Alaska on Wednesday.
Anthony "Tony" flew in from Austin, Texas on Thursday.
Ingrid "Figueroa" Wilkerson (FIG's sister) drove in from Maryland on Thursday.

I drove up to Lexington, KY on Thursday. (1.5hrs from Rineyville)
I spoke to Ricky around midnight. He gave me an update, plus said I could be at the
Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, for the Private Family Viewing at 9am. 
I met the family at 9am and was able to share quality time with FIG.

Due to the time he laid in the yard, plus the time in the morgue, the funeral home said, it would
have to be a closed casket, because embalming could not be done. Since it would have been a closed casket, cremation was chosen.

On June 4^th,  a graveside service was held at 10:30am, Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY.   
An Air Force Honor Guard team came from the Kentucky ANG, (Louisville) and gave Military Rites.

A Celebration of Life for FIG, was held at the American Legion, in Elizabethtown.

We then had a memorial dinner for family and friends in FIG's honor, at his favorite
Mexican Restaurant – Los Nogales.
We all shared precious memories of FIG and how he had touched our lives.
Richard “FIG” Figueroa has touched thousands of lives and is truly missed.

When we finished dinner, we were in the parking lot taking group photo’s.
Looking at the sky, we were blessed by the most perfect “Rainbow” that I’ve ever seen.
We all said, FIG was looking down on us and smiling, knowing we all were their, celebrating his life.

We had approximately 20 Enrouters that came to attend his Funeral, Celebration of Life and Memorial Dinner.

Richard “FIG” Figueroa may be gone, but his spirt and memories will be cherished by all, forever.

FIG – THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AND ALL THE GREAT TIMES WE HAVE SHARED,
FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS.

Richard "FIG" Funeral Pics
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gFx8SXJziFJERdWz5

Due to time restraints at FIG's funeral, no music was played.
I'm playing these songs in FIG's honor.

The Wind Beneath My Wings by Gary Morris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TvCGj5n1d4

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiawo'Ole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahr069-fzE

The Way We Were by Lucy Thomas 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fduZDYKFl04

The Candle in the Wind by Elton John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PsntanDGKY


Richard “FIG” Figueroa
FIGs OBIT
https://brownfuneral.com/obitview.asp?obitid=4542&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR39H55LgyUJW9BdgRJm39CsQXmTlvg3nUQUWmOz-0gQTTqI04yBJhpGfhw_aem_Aczq8z5YMi3Qm3I8X3Pt9Nfnn8AkCaG9991qDT9agcAft20m7yirWRZXnZIQOcmmEAg7uD1E_HSBL9KRpfLkC1RqNO

Folks Attending FIG's Funeral

Mr and Mrs Russell Brown, Marilyn (Mrs. Brown's sister) and grandson
Rory Allen
Harry Bryza
Beverly Gary and Bonnie (Friends from CHS AFB - stationed together 1975-77)
Bruce Martas
Stan Miller
Debra Murphy
Mr. and Mrs David Oxley
Rolando Santamarina
Mr and Mrs Scott Taggart
Mr & Mrs. Bob Thomas
********************
Kathy Kemp 
I was going to meet up with him in September because he bought me a
bottle of McBrayer Kentucky Bourbon a long while back (because of the McBravers are part of my maternal grandmother’s family) and I was going to bring him a bottle of English whisky from Norfolk, which won kind of reward. I told Stan to crack open that McBrayer bourbon with Figgy’s sister and sons and have a toast from me.
During the Celebration of Life Ceremony
We made a "FAREWELL TOAST" to FIG, in honor of Kathy Kemp and everyone present.
FIG - You will be truly missed, may you RIP. 

*********************

We will be honoring Richard A. Figueroa:

With Bench Placards and Memorial Bricks, at the Dover AFB Air Museum, Delaware.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2025  Richard "FIG" Figueora Enroute Mx Reunion
Oct 8-12, 2025
Bardstown, KY
Information on the reunion is posted on this website, but more info will be posted.
I've spoken to the Kentucky Dinner Train folks (spoke to them in person on June 5th).
Planning a Special Tribute for FIG, during our train dinner meal.
FIG's family is planning on attending. (They will be at the Head Table)

MORE info will be posted as it comes available.

During the Reunion
FIG's son Ricky gave me several of FIG's Aircraft Photo's, fully framed and matted. 
These will be given out as "SPECIAL DOOR PRIZES" in memory of FIG.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a showing of FIG's love and kindness

I wanted to share this personal story with everyone from Enroute, something that happened while attending Fig’s funeral. My wife had just talked to Fig approximately 3 days prior to his passing. (She had mailed him an invitation to come to Kansas for a surprise party for me on my 70th birthday.) He told her he wouldn’t miss it! His sister Ingrid and son Ricky found the surprise birthday party invitation along with his travel plans in his home. They made sure that I received the German bottle of wine that he had gotten for me along with the note that he had written. They presented it to me during the Celebration of Life ceremony. As you can image I was completely taken aback and honored with the kindness they showed me to ensure that I got these special items from Fig. It touches me deeply to know that Fig was heading to Kansas to celebrate my 70th birthday with me. He was a true friend and a great person, I will truly miss him.

Thank you Ingrid and Ricky for making my upcoming birthday one that I will never forget.
Bob Thomas





Dover AFB Air Park Museum

AMC Museum Aircraft Bench Program 
Dover AFB Air Park Museum (store) website
https://store.amcmuseum.org/collections/aircraft-bench-program

** Gary Kutsch (Enrouter) works at the Dover AFB Air Museum -- THANKS for your help.

Bench Plaque (s) ($100 each)
C-141A - Plaque
C-141B - Plaque
C-5  -      Plaque
 

• to memorialize a friend -- Enroute Member

Brick:   1 ea:    8" x 8"     $125
Brick:   1 ea:    8" x 8"     $125

Brick:    1ea:     4" x 8"   3 lines -- $65
Brick:    1ea:     8" x 8"   6 lines -- $125                      .
Estimated Total Price: 

Multiple plaques be put on the benches.

https://store.amcmuseum.org/collections/pave-a-legacy-path?_pos=1&_psq=paver&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://store.amcmuseum.org/collections/aircraft-bench-program
https://store.amcmuseum.org/products/c-141a-starlifter-bench-plaque?_pos=2&_sid=b4c8f1a22&_ss=r
https://store.amcmuseum.org/products/c-141b-starlifter-bench-plaque?_pos=1&_sid=c096887b4&_ss=r
https://store.amcmuseum.org/products/c-5a-galaxy-bench-plaque?_pos=17&_sid=8fe4246e6&_ss=r

The Plaqard's will be put on these benches.




This is how the bench looks like, in front of an airplane.


 

*************************************************************************

Note: Our Enroute Memorial Bench

Scott AFB Heritage Park 
Email rec'd today (June 7)

Good Afternoon Stanley. 
I learned that another granite bench has been approved
(but not installed yet) so we are looking at getting your
granite bench approved to be put in the Air Park. 
As I mentioned before, nothing ever gets done quickly
on the base, but at least it's good news a granite bench
is possible.
You can contact me through email, Geno Carvotta.

More on this later. Just wanted to give you a heads up.