Rader Richard Leslie "Dick" 79 left this world peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday June 6th. Since the loss of his beloved wife of 56 years Betty in 2008 life had lost its luster. A heart attack was to be the last of his suffering on this Earth. He was born on November nineteenth 1930 in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania to Leslie and Emily Rader. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving from 1948 to 1955. He rendered honest and faithful service to his country on the U.S.S. Rochester and the U.S.S. PCE-193. While in the Naval Reserves and working in a radio factory Richard met and married Betty Gordon. Shortly after he began a life-long career with the Bell Telephone Company proudly following in his father's footsteps as a Bell System engineer. In 1960 he transferred from Pennsylvania to the space coast of Florida settling with his family in Cocoa where he engineered some of the first underground telephone cable systems at Cape Canaveral and the surrounding areas. Another transfer in 1969 moved his family to Lake worth where he continued his engineering career with Bell South. In 1983 he retired and moved with Betty to Deland.
A life-long lover of radio Richard built his first radio receiver at the age of nine and quickly became a Ham Radio enthusiast. He was a lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League as well as a member of the Deland Ham Radio Club. He obtained his first FCC Amateur Radio license in 1951 and maintained it until his death. Over the years he assisted in critical Ham Radio communication efforts for several overseas and domestic disasters. His call sign was W4TMS. Dick was a loving father and had an amazing quick wit. He loved birds the sea his travel out west music good food a good joke and Glenn Livet single malt scotch. His laughter jokes and puns as well as his devotion to making his children's lives better will never be forgotten. It was too soon Dad to lose you. He is survived by his four children: Richard G. Rader of Royal Palm Beach his wife Joyce Deborah R. Garland her husband Ernie Mark T. Rader and Marilyn L. Rader of Deland; two grandchildren: Brian Rader and Lesli Patray and one great-grandchild Lucas Rader. Funeral Services will be Thursday June 10th at 1pm at the Lohman Funeral Home Deland Chapel. Interment with military honors will be immediately following at Deland Memorial Gardens. His family will receive friends from 11 am to 1 pm preceding the service. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com.