James R. “Dick” Wakefield
Mr. James R. “Dick” Wakefield, age 91, of Covington, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
Born on February 24, 1932, he was the son of Lewis W. Wakefield and Mary Ann (Stepp) Wakefield. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Linda Smith Wakefield in 2019. He was also preceded by his mother, father, three brothers, and four sisters.
He is survived by his daughter, Melanie Rickett and husband, Gary, of Covington; a son, Michael Wakefield and wife, Cindy, of Zion Crossroads; five granddaughters: Brittany Johnson and husband, Andrew; Katie Brigham and husband, Alex; Alexandra Wakefield, Lilly Wakefield, and McKaiya Wakefield; a grandson, Nathan Shemanski; two great-grandsons, Tanner Johnson and Nathanael Brigham; a sister-in-law, Pat Banadyga, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dick grew up on a rural farm and attended high school in Scottsville, Va. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics at Auburn University. He attained Professional Engineering Registration in Delaware and Virginia. Dick served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, operated air rescue and patrol boats on the Chesapeake Bay and served aboard ship in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. He attained the rank of Boatswains Mate (E-5).
Dick worked for Hercules, Inc., for thirty years. He designed the electrical power, control and instrumentation systems for the two Covington, VA Film Plants and one for Terre Haute, IN. He assisted with the design, construction, start-up and maintenance of manufacturing plants in Brunswick, GA; Covington, VA; Richmond, VA; Terre Haute, IN; Salt Lake City, UT; Columbia, SC; Sparta, TN; Varennes, Quebec; Brantham, England and Vargina Brazil. He later provided technical support for operating problems in the U.S. and overseas. After retiring from Hercules, Dick worked eleven years for Honeywell, Inc., where he made plant design improvements in the U.S. East and South.
Dick loved the West. As he had once loved the open sea in the Navy, he loved the desert and canyon lands, the wide-open spaces, the great high mountains and the clear crisp air. He enjoyed the simplicity of life in Brazil, the old south in Georgia and South Carolina, and of course, he loved America and the Virginia hills.
After retirement, Dick and the loved of his life, Linda, built their dream log home on his beloved Appleberry Mountain Farm near Charlottesville, VA. The family relationships and working together and living on the familiar ground where he grew up were a really great experience.
Dick’s greatest moment occurred when the Lord Christ called him to come to the most majestic and beautiful mountain scenic setting of his entire life in the high Rocky Mountains. There a transcendent, supernatural miracle occurred that transformed his life and revealed great, wonderful, and hidden things that he did not know: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Isaiah 64:4. His life was forever changed after that experience which he shared in his published book, “Come to the Mountain”, by Dorrance Publishing.com ISBN 0-8059-5874-6.
A funeral service will be conducted at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Temple Baptist Church with Rev. Todd Lynn officiating. A private family interment will be held on Monday.
Graveside rites will be conducted by Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon from 5:00 p.m. until time of service at Temple Baptist Church.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Temple Baptist Church, 300 Stratton Street, Covington, VA 24426
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; to view the memorial tribute page for Mr. Wakefield, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
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