Richard Ripley Mehrhof

Augusta, GA - Richard Ripley Mehrhof, 89, entered into rest on January 17, 2014. Dick was born October 17, 1924 in Charleston, SC. He was the only child of Norman Ripley and Margaret Elsing Mehrhof.

Funeral Services will be at First Baptist Church of Augusta in Storey Chapel , Tuesday, January 21st at 11:00 am with Dr. Greg Deloach and Dr. Tim Owings. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 am in the chapel atrium. Interment will be private.

Dick was raised in Gainesville, FL. After one year at the University of Florida, he joined the United States Navy and served his country as a Lieutenant in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was a skipper on an LCT.

After the war he returned to the U.S. and entered Tulane University. He graduated in 1948, having majored in business and foreign languages. Right after graduation he married the girl of his dreams, Fay Irvin.

Dick went to work as Southeastern Manager for Bradley and Baker, which later became Columbia Nitrogen. He moved his family from Atlanta to Augusta in 1965, where he remained until his death.

He was sent to Russia in 1957 by the Eisenhower program to assist the emerging nation with its agricultural productivity.

He loved golf and tennis with his regular competitors, and passed his passion for the games on to his children. He was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Augusta and the Crusaders Sunday School class, which he loved. He was a member of the Augusta Country Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the Golden Harvest Food Bank for many years, and was very proud of his membership in the Kiwanis Club of Augusta.

In 1955, while vacationing with his family in St. Augustine, FL, he reacted to a desperate situation and saved the lives of two young girls who had been swept out to sea. He always regretted that his efforts could not save their mother. For his actions he was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism. He never knew who nominated him for this highest civilian honor.

Dick was a devoted husband and father. He was known for his integrity, compassion and intellect. He was wise and had an uncanny ability to calmly solve problems.

Dick is survived by his wife of 65 years, Fay; sons Richard Ripley Mehrhof, Jr. (Jayne), Clay Irvin Mehrhof (Jill) and daughter Leslie Luckey (Bob); six grandchildren, Allison Mehrhof Witherington, Emily Mehrhof Sheffield, Joanna Mehrhof Jones, Thomas Ripley Mehrhof, Clay Irvin Mehrhof, Jr., Clinton Richard Luckey and six great granddaughters.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Crusaders Sunday school class and members of the Kiwanis Club of Augusta.

The family extends special thanks to Bobbie Phillips for her care giving and to the Charlie Norwood Uptown VA and its staff for their care and support.

If so desired, memorials may made to the Golden Harvest Food Bank, 3310 Commerce Drive, Augusta, GA 30909.