Richard Dean Herron, passed away Friday, August 22, 2014 at his home in Estill Springs.
He was born in Dresden, Tennessee to the late Chancellor Clarence Grooms and Mary Brasfield Herron.
Mr. Herron received his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1959 where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and where he met and married his wife Diane E. Lamar. He earned his Master of Science from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1963. Mr. Herron began his engineering career with ARO, Inc. at AEDC in 1959 and retired in 1996 with 37 years of service. He was recognized as an AEDC Fellow in 1997. He served in the Army National Guard from 1956 to 1983 and retired at the rank of Colonel. Mr. Herron served as the Commander of the Marksmanship Training Unit and won many competitions as an expert marksman. He set multiple national records, won the individual rifle champion Farr Trophy in 1970, and was a member of the President’s Hundred. He was a member of the Estill Spring’s Lions Club for 30 years where he was the Lion of the Decade in 2000 and received the Melvin Jones Fellow award in 2014. Mr. Herron was a member of the Tullahoma First United Methodist Church. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Betsye Herron Hickman.
Mr. Herron is survived by the family he was so proud of; his wife of 55 years, Diane Lamar Herron; sons, James (Christa) Herron and Richard Herron; granddaughters, Shelby and Lindsay Herron that were so special to him; brothers, Roy (Nancy) Herron and Ben Herron; and his mother-in-law, Ava Waller Lamar.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00pm, Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Kilgore Funeral Home with the funeral service taking place at First United Methodist Church at 11:00am on Monday, August 25, 2014.
The family asks for donations to the First United Methodist Church, 208 West Lauderdale Street, Tullahoma, TN 37388 in lieu of flowers.
Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.