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Richard A. Figueroa, TSGT, USAF, Ret
Born: August 31, 1953
Passed: May 27, 2024
Richard A. Figueroa "FIG"
He was found deceased in his front yard, Memorial Day morning, by neighbors, due to a heart attack.
Please keep FIG's family in your thoughts and prayers.
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Richard Anton Figueroa
Richard "FIG" Anton Figueroa age 70 passed away Monday, May 27th, 2024, at his home. Richard was born August 31st, 1953, in Munich Germany. He entered the Air Force at age 20 and served for 20 years. His squadron in the United States Air Force was the 435th Organizational Maintenance Squadron - Enroute Maintenance Section, a squadron that would lead to lifelong friendships. After his retirement from the Air Force, he began to work for UPS Air District KSDF Louisville, Kentucky. He was at UPS for twenty-two years and helped load numerous jets in his time there. Here too, Richard made deep friendships that would carry with him through retirement. He would later credit his time in the USAF for helping mold him to achieve all his accomplishments and goals in life. He married Verneal "Bernie" Smith in 1979, though they later divorced, they were blessed with two boys, Anton "Tony" Duane on September 18th, 1979 and Richardt "Ricky" Glenn on July 25th, 1983. While Richard was extremely proud of his time in the Air Force, he was most proud of his two sons, Tony, and Ricky. His sons speak fondly about various trips they would take growing up, reflecting on how those experiences impacted them in ways they did not fully realize at the time. While their friends were watching the latest movie, the Figueroa boys were seeing sights like the Grand Canyon and exploring other landmarks in America. Richard had many hobbies. He was an amateur photographer, going on what he called "photo recons" often. The beauty of his engagement with photography was the backstory he always inserted into each of these recon trips. Richard also loved cars and generally anything mechanical. He was great with tools, cars, and projects of all kinds. Mostly those that loved him are going to remember him for the joy he carried through life and his sense of humor. The desire to live and see things and do. He is survived by his sons Anton Figueroa, daughter-in-law Brooklyn Figueora of Walburg, TX; Richardt Figueroa, daughter-in-law Patricia Figueroa of Anchorage, Alaska; one sister, Ingrid Wilkerson of Lothian, MD; ex-wife Bernice Rodgers of Missouri and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Julio Figueroa and Susanna Gauer Lile. The service will be Tuesday June 4th at 10:30 a.m. at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life at 2:30pm to 5:30pm on June 4th at the American Legion Hardin Post 113, 1251 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, KY (270-737-9949).
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 starting at 10:00 AM
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central
https://brownfuneral.com/obitview.asp?obitid=4542
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During our 2025 Richard A. Figueroa Enroute Mx Reunion being held in Bardstown, KY
We will come to the Veteran's Cemetery on Friday and hold a Memorial Service for FIG.
I will update our schedule of events as we get closer to the reunion -- Oct 8-12, 2025.
Plus, we will have a Celebration of Life ceremony, during our Kentucky Dinner Train ride.
More information will be posted, as it comes available.
Please make sure I have your name listed as attending the reunion and dinner train.
(Only 70 seats are available). The 5 Course Meal, Bourbon Tasting, will be approx $170 pp..
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Funeral – Graveside Services / Celebration of Life Ceremony / Dinner – In Honor of FIG
June 4
Time: 1030
Veteran’s Cemetery Central
2501 N Dixie Blvd, Fort Knox, KY 40121
(Next to Fort Knox)
CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONY
2:30pm – 5:30pm
American Legion Post # 113
1251 Ring Road
Elizabethtown, KY
Dinner – In Honor of FIG
6pm – 7:30pm (?)
Location: Los Napoles
1306 North Dixie Highway
Elizabethtown KY
This was FIG's most favorite Mexican Restaurant
Stan Miller
Email: stansvets@gmail.com
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Folks are asking about flowers.
Graveside Service Only
NO FLOWERS
** Veteran Cemetery does not allow flowers **
Anyone that had planned to send flowers, the Family has asked,
Please send a donation in FIGs honor to:
National Parks Conservation Association
https://www.npca.org/
(FIGs favorite organization)
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Folks Attending Funeral
Mr and Mrs Russ Brown and grandson
Rory Allen - California
Harry Bryza - Georgia
Beverly & Bonnie Gary (Friends from CHS AFB) Virginia
Bruce Martas - Texas
Stan Miller - North Carolina
Debra Murphy - Boston
Mr. and Mrs David Oxley - Minnesota
Rolando Santamarina - Florida
Mr and Mrs Scott Taggart - Alabama
Mr & Mrs. Bob Thomas - Kansas
Richard A. Figueora's Gravesite Section #6 Grave # 507
Kentucky Veteran's Cemetery Central, Radcliff, Kentucky
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A Special Toast was made to FIG, with this SPECIAL BOTTLE.
Figgy & I (Kathie) were going to meet up in September (2024) to exchange whiskies - He bought a bottle of McBrayer Kentucky Bourbon (which is made by some of my McBrayer cousins) and I was bringing a bottle of English whisky from a distillery in Norfolk (England) who won an award for it. I told Stan to open that McBrayer bourbon when he goes to KY and have a drink to Figgy from me and everyone present, for our many years of friendship. Kathie (Fessler) Kemp. Richardt Figueroa - FIG's son, is holding the bottle.
We finished the dinner in FIG's honor and walked out of the restaurant.
This rainbow was in the sky. FIG was looking down on us, smiling.
https://brownfuneral.com/obitview.asp?obitid=4542
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Dan Greene (1977)
We are very saddened to learn of this loss. Mr. Figueroa will always be remembered as a warm, hospitable, authentic person to me. He was a true brother. I am honored to have met Fig through my husband Dan. I am going to miss sharing large files of reunion photos 📸. Mr Shutterbug himself liked my pics! My condolences to his sons, bloodline & Enroute families. Dan & Tiffany GreenePatricia Heffron
I'm so sorry to hear this and my condolences to those who knew him. He was a good friend to my dad, who I'm sure is waiting for him on the other side ...
Craig Adkins (1980)
Sorry to hear this. He was a good guy. Chatted with him on FB a couple of months ago.
Douglas Hubbard (1975)
Sorry to hear of your loss. It was an honor to serve with Fig at RMAB years
1975 to 1977.
Stanley Miller (1980)
Richard "FIG" Figueroa
A true American Legend. Friends like FIG, are hard to find.
All you have to say is FIG and everyone knew who were talking about.
He was truly the BEST friend, I've ever had and for 44 years.
WOW !!! The Precious Memories that we share.
Its been almost 2 months since you passed on. You are missed dearly by all.
When Ricky called me with the news, I had hoped it was only a dream.
I was invited to attend the private family viewing and was able to share quality time
with him. Saying good bye to your best friend, was hard to do.
His funeral was very simple but beautiful, just the way he would have wanted it.
A very nice Celebration of Life was held after the funeral, at the American Legion in Elizabethtown KY.
We then had a Memorial Dinner in his honor, at his favorite Mexican Restaurant, also in Elizabethtown.
FIG and I had so many plans for our upcoming 2025 Enroute Reunion in Bardstown, which is about 30 miles from his hometown of Rineyville. I've named this reunion, the 2025 Richard "FIG" Figueroa Enroute Mx Reunion, in his honor. I have some SPECIAL events planned for him, in his honor, during our reunion.
His family donated several of his favorite framed aircraft photo's to me. I plan to give these out as
"SPECIAL DOOR PRIZES" in FIG's honor.
I had promised FIG, the next time I visited Rineyville, I was going to visit his Mother's grave.
Never in a million years, I would have dreamed, I would be paying my respects to her by myself.
I attended his Estate Sale. As I was leaving his driveway, I looked in the mirror and saw his home,
one last time and cherished the memories we shared at his home and all of our travels.
FIG -- My Friend -- RIP.
You are truly missed.