Richard Patterson Taft Jr. Obituary

Richard Patterson Taft, Jr., 83, of Kenmore, WA passed away peacefully with his sons by his side on Saturday, October 22, 2022 in Seattle, WA.

'Pat' was born on March 8, 1939 in Orange, NJ to Richard P. Taft and Edna P. Taft. He was a 1957 graduate of Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ and of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, Class of 1961, during which he earned All America honors as a swimmer. Pat married his soul mate of 50 years, Helen A. Hench of Montclair, NJ, in June of 1961. He earned his United States Navy wings of gold in 1962, with which he proudly served our nation as an aviator aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, retiring as a Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1986. He and Helen lived their retirement years in the mountains of Colorado and the space coast of Florida.

Pat is preceded in death by Helen (October, 2011) and his parents. He is survived by his brother, Eugene S. Taft of Melbourne, FL, son Richard P. Taft III and wife Kristi of Victoria, MN, son Douglas S. Taft and wife Carol of Kenmore, WA and granddaughters Melissa N. Taft of Honolulu, HI, Ashley E. Taft of Kenmore, WA, Kara M. Taft of Chicago, IL and Sarah H. Taft of Minneapolis, MN. He will be deeply and lovingly missed.

A memorial is being planned for the summer of '23 in the mountains of Colorado where family and friends will celebrate a revered patriarch, a life well and honorably lived and where Pat will take up residence forever with his cherished Helen.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.