Richard Bailey December 1, 1930 ~ April 29, 2010
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

 
Richard Bailey, 79, longtime Ogallala resident, died Thursday, April 29, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln.

Richard R. Bailey was born December 1, 1930 at Arnold, NE, the son of Walter and Josephine Porter Bailey.

Richard received his early education through eighth grade at Pleasant Hill, a country school east of Arnold, NE. He attended two years of high school at Arnold High School and two years of high school at Gothenburg, NE, graduating in 1947.

Immediately after high school, Richard worked for Platte Valley Public Power and Irrigation District for four years prior to entering the armed forces in 1951.  Richard was united in marriage to E. Joan Friesenborg on September 20, 1953 in Gothenburg, NE.

Mr. Bailey proudly served in the Navy Seabees for four years during the Korean Conflict, attending boot camp in San Diego and then Class A construction electrician school in Port Hueneme, CA.  Richard was in Mobile Construction Battalion #4, touring most of the Atlantic and serving in Newfoundland, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, French Morocco, Trinidad, and the Panama Canal.  He also spent fifteen months in Williamsburg, VA at Cheatham Annex. While in the jungles of Trinidad he helped dismantle and label four large diesel generators and send them to Cuba for re-assembly.

After his service discharge in September of 1955, Richard enrolled at the University of Nebraska.  He completed a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, graduating in 1959.  Richard and Joan moved their family to Springfield, IL where Richard worked for Sangamo Electric Company as a product design and processing engineer.  The company worked with power factor correction and industrial type capacitors.  While living in Springfield, Richard was very active in the Springfield Jaycees.

The Bailey family returned to Nebraska in the autumn of 1961 as Richard began work at TRW Capacitors in Ogallala.  From 1968 to 1972 Richard was project manager on two NASA contracts for studying AC polycarbonate capacitors for use in space.  In the late 1960’s, Richard was issued a special patent for AC polycarbonate capacitors.   Mr. Bailey continued with TRWC and then after January 1, 1987 with ASC until October of 1988.  As a result of reduction of technical personnel when ASC built a plant in Mexico, Richard was among many who were laid off.

The Baileys kept their residence in Ogallala while they relocated to Florida.  For most of 1989 Richard worked as an engineer for Sprague Components.  Later in 1989 Sprague had a major layoff and the Baileys returned to Nebraska.  Richard was employed at Cooper Nuclear Plant (NPPD) at Brownville, NE, until he retired in early 1993.  Richard and Joan then came home to Ogallala to enjoy retirement.

Mr. Bailey was very active in the community.  He belonged to the Ogallala First Baptist Church and served on the Board of Directors for many years. He was a Cub Scout leader and enjoyed membership in the Ogallala Coin Club, also serving as its president.  Other memberships include Ogallala Jaycees, West Central Nebraska Economic Development Board, and Keith County Development Board of Directors.  He served on the Ogallala City Council from 1978 to 1986, and was Mayor of Ogallala and President of City Council from 1980 through 1982.

Mr. Bailey also served on the Ogallala Rotary Club Board of Directors, was President of Nebraska Numismatic Association, and belonged to the American Legion.  As a young man raising his family, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and boating.  In later years, his hobbies included coin collecting, owning antique cars, and going to auctions.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, brother Woodrow W. Bailey, and nine sisters: Lois L. Wolverton, Mildred M. Booth, Ora O. Hubbard, Wilma W. Dainton,  Phyllis P. Anderson, Doris D. France, Beulah B. Jantz, Eulah E. Barta, and Nina N. Peterson. 

Richard’s surviving family includes his wife E. Joan Bailey of Ogallala, daughter Susan R. Bailey of Ogallala, son Gregory J. Bailey of Gainesville, FL, son Timothy A. Bailey of Ogallala, and six grandchildren: Kai, Karli, Jamie, Samuel, Molly, and Adam.  Also surviving are two sisters: Ramona R. Benjamin of North Platte, and Delores D. Rodine of Gothenburg, and special friends of 45 years, Dick and Lillian Easley of Lincoln.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home. Funeral Service is Friday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in New Hope Worship Center on East "O" Street. Rev. Curtis Tschetter of the First Baptist Church will officiate. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Ogallala First Baptist Church.

Interment in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, on Friday at 2 p.m. Central Time. Military Honors by the North Platte Veterans Honor Guard and the US Navy Funeral Honors Guard.

Online Condolences may be sent by clicking here.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.