Richard Montgomery Bledsoe, born, July 1, 1922 in Petoskey, Michigan, passed away from pancreatic cancer on May 2, 2019 in La Mesa, CA.
He is survived by two sons, Gregg M Bledsoe of Campo, California and Garry R Bledsoe of Fallbrook, California, four grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He moved to California when he was 5 years old and lived in the San Diego area for many years. He attended and graduated from Grossmont High School in El Cajon where he held the record time in the 1320 yard race in track for over 15 years. He married his wife, Madge Louise Chumbley, on May 23, 1942 when they eloped to Yuma, AZ because she was under age. When WWII commenced he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and flew cargo planes in the South Pacific around Australia and New Guinea. After being discharged from the service he joined the San Diego Fire Department in 1950 and retired from there in 1977. A few years after retiring, they moved to Glenwood, Arkansas where they lived until his wife passed away in 2015. While in Glenwood he joined the volunteer fire department and was the chief of the department for several years. They loved Arkansas, mainly because of being able to go fishing as often as he wanted. After his wife passed away, he moved in with his son, Garry, in Fallbrook, CA. He lived there for two years before moving into a Senior living facility in La Mesa, California. He loved to play the organ and the harmonica and those in the senior living facility will remember him for his music that he shared with them. His family is grateful that so many cared for him in his later years. He is now in paradise with his wife and other family members in a joyful reunion.