Richard Townley Terwilliger

Richard Terwilliger passed away peacefully at Madrone Hospice in Yreka on October 2, 2014 at the age of 79. Richard Terwilliger was born in Yreka in 1934. The first few years as a child, Richard lived in Willow Creek and attended a one-room school called Foothill School. In the early 1940s Richard’s family moved to Little Shasta and he attended Little Shasta School for a time, then went to Montague Grammar School, then on to Yreka Elementary School where he graduated, and finally to Yreka High School, traveling by bus each day from the family home in Little Shasta. After graduation in 1953, Richard enlisted in the Air Force for four years of active duty and four years of inactive service. His basic training was at Pleasanton, California for 11 weeks. He went to munitions school at Lowery Air Force Base at Denver, Colorado, and after that was stationed at Fairchild A.F.B. under S.A.C. command. Later, Richard went back to school at Lowery for special weapons training in nuclear weapons, back to Spokane, Washington, and then received orders to go T.D.Y. to Guam Anderson A.F.B for 90 days with the 92nd Bomb Wing of B-36 Bombers. When that tour ended, Richard was sent back to Spokane and then received orders to Siti Slimane A.F.B. in French Morocco, North Africa for 13 months. His route there was by way of New York to Newfoundland and then to the Azores Islands where he joined up with the 5th Aviation Depot in Morocco to load any and all types of weapons on the new B-47 jet bombers. After a short leave, Richard flew to Madrid, Spain, a city he maintained was the most beautiful city he encountered during his overseas tour. In North Africa, he had an opportunity to visit many cities including Rabat, Sale, Marrakech, Meknes, and Tangiers. When his tour ended in North Africa, Richard was stationed at Davis Mothan Air Force Base just outside of Tucson, Arizona. It was six months later that his tour ended with an honorable discharge. In 1957, Richard went into partnership with his folks ranching in Little Shasta Valley raising registered Polled Hereford cattle. The family also raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea hens, rabbit, and pigs, mostly for their own use, as well as cultivating a large garden. Richard enjoyed growing things and remembered much of the produce being canned for later use. Richard was married in 1966. Two children were produced from that union, a daughter and a son. He was voted to serve on the Agriculture Stabilization Board and continued to ranch with his parents. After ten years of marriage he was divorced and given custody of his 8 year old daughter and 6 year old son. He sold his interest in the ranch to raise his children and moved to Yreka. Later he volunteered at the Siskiyou General Hospital for a few years and then went to work at a local camera store. In 1990, Richard started to work at the Siskiyou County Museum. While his children were in grade school, Richard served on the Site Council at Gold Street School. Richard loved the ocean, enjoyed camping with Jennifer and Dale near the beach, also hanging out with his son, and taking photographs. Both children and son-in-law Dale are very good photographers as well. In 1948 Richard bought his first camera, a film model, and then 60 years later purchased a digital camera in 2007. The time he spent taking photographs of wildlife, flowers, scenery, local Siskiyou County attractions, and other sites during his travels was time well spent and time he wouldn’t have traded to pursue other hobbies. He accepted a limited number of photography jobs such as weddings and yearbook photos which he enjoyed very much. He always liked seeing people happy with the results that he captured on film. Among his duties at the museum, Richard scanned and printed historical images from the collection that were used in exhibits, publications, and other museum endeavors. He also worked with the public’s photos making copies or retouching. The format was mainly black and white, but for all photo work he used an advanced computer program for air brushing and retouching. Richard never remarried and spent most of his time working, cooking, taking photographs, and helping with special interpretive programs produced by the museum, and visiting his daughter and son-in-law several times a year, and going on camera shoots with his son. He had many cherished friends at the museum. Richard was preceded in death by his folks, Sidney and Jessie Terwilliger of Little Shasta; a brother Donald; a brother-in-law, Fletcher Hoyt of Mt. Shasta and a nephew, Doug Terwilliger. He leaves two children, Jennifer and son-in-law Dale, of Portland; a son Richard and his wife Morgan of City of the Rogue, a sister, Evelyn Hoyt, of Mt. Shasta, and a sister-in-law, Barbara Terwilliger. In addition, he leaves nephews Sidney (Sid) Hoyt and wife Gulshan of Huntsville, Alabama, Werner Hoyt and wife Misson of Mt. Shasta, and Michael Terwilliger and wife Jackie. He also leaves nieces Theresa and husband Rodney Jue of California, Evelyn Ann and husband Joel, of California and many first cousins around the world. At this time, no services are planned. Donations may be made to the Little Shasta Church, Hospice, or Fairchild Medical Center.

Richard Townley Terwilliger

November 9, 1934 - October 2, 2014