He was born in Long Beach, CA on September 21, 1931, the son of Hiram and Ruth Gray Lay.
He graduated for Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach in 1949 and then entered the Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington. He later served in Guam and was honorably discharged in 1955. On July 19, 1958 he married Arline Pennell.
After his service in the military, Richard went to Florida State University in Tallahassee and graduated with a BS degree in meteorology. For 3 years he worked as a meteorologist in Long Beach, CA and then was transferred to San Francisco International Airport, serving as a marine meteorologist from 1967 to 1986. It was during this period that he was the head meteorologist for the 1984 Olympic Games. From 1986 to 1992, Richard was the lead forecaster for marine meteorology in Hawaii, where he accurately predicted the path of Hurricane Iniki which struck the island of Kauai. He proudly received a meteorology award for this from NOAA. In 1993, Richard retired to Brunswick, ME.
He was a member of the AMA, Navy League, NARFE where he served as second vice-president, Coyote Point Yacht Club in San Mateo, CA, Waiki Yacht Club in Honolulu, HI, 1992 Kenwood Cup World Championship Committee in Honolulu, HI, and USS Maine Submarine Commission. Richard was also a member of The Congregational Church of San Mateo, CA.
Besides his wife Arline of 54 years, he is survived by 2 sons, Dwight Fairbanks Lay of Long Beach, CA and James Lay, daughter Eve Hladky and her husband Timothy of Brunswick, ME, Sister-in-law Nancy Pennell and nephew Samuel Pennell both of Brunswick, ME.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 23rd at 1PM at First Parish Church in Brunswick, ME with the Rev. Geoff Parker officiating. Donations in Richard’s Memory may be made to ABYC Junior Fund, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, 7201 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90803. Memorial condolences may be expressed and a video tribute may be viewed at www.stetsonsfuneralhome.com.
obits@timesrecord.com
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