Richard C. Truesdell

 Richard Carl Truesdell, 84, a retired Commander in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, died 11/9/2020 of cancer.  He was a longtime resident of Crofton, Maryland.

Cdr. Truesdell was born in Los Angeles, CA, graduating from the University of Southern California where he majored in architecture and city planning.  While in high school he enlisted in a U.S. Navy Seabee Reserve unit, continuing for five years while in college.  After graduation in 1959 he was Commissioned as a Navy CEC officer.  He later earned a Masters Degree in Engineering from Purdue University.

During his 24 year active military career he served in multiple construction, public works and staff logistic assignments both in the United States and overseas.  Significant assignments included USNA, Annapolis, MD; USMC Air Base, Yuma, AZ; Washington Navy Yard; OICC Thailand during construction of the Utapo Air Base and related supply roads in the early stages of the Vietnam war: PWO Gulfport, MS; XONMCB 133; NAVFAC, Washington D.C.; Navy Labratory, Annapolis, MD; SHAPE, Belgium: and OP 44, Pentagon.

Military honors included the Defense Meritorious Service Metal, two Navy Commendation Medals, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Seven Stars in Thailand and with NMCB 133.

After retirement from the Navy in 1983, Cdr. Truesdell who was licensed Professional Engineer, worked for several Northern Virginia and Maryland construction management and engineering firms until he retired in 2014.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years Lucille Truesdell; two children, Steven Truesdale (Janine) of Tampa, Fl. and Carrie Bird (Ted) of Harwood, MD; and five grandchildren; Daniel Truesdell, Michael Truesdell, Grayden Bird, Marcus Bird and Owen Bird.  He was preceded in death by his oldest son William in 2018.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122 (please note name of loved one in the memo line) or online at www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now.