LT. COLONEL RICHARD EUIENE BLOOM

September 14, 1928 - January 8, 2023

Richard (Dick) Bloom was born September 14, 1928, on a farm in Hobart, Oklahoma, the last of eight children to George and Kate Bloom.

After growing up in Hobart, he left to attend Tulsa University in Oklahoma where he played football and ran track for the Golden Hurricanes.

Upon graduating from Tulsa University, Dick joined the United States Air Force, where he enjoyed a 26 year career as a navigator for B-29 bombers and KC-135 tankers. He served in the Korean War, Vietnam and throughout some of the Cold War.

In July 1955, Dick married Leta Marie Myers (1930-1999) and they had three children, Debbie Greer, Carol Lerner, both from Riverside, CA and Roger Bloom, of Grass Valley, CA. The Air Force took/moved the family to several states and overseas, then to March Air Force Base in Riverside where he retired in 1978.

From 1979 - 1989 Dick and Leta lived in Hermosa Beach where he was an Industrial Engineer for MacDonald Douglas in Torrance, CA. In 1989 he officially retired to Wildomar, CA where they enjoyed gardening and “farming” for many years. Leta passed away in May 1999.

In 2001, Dick met and then married Rosemary Larson (1928-2022) and they moved to San Marcos, then Escondido, CA. During this time they enjoyed traveling, hiking and painting and left us with a treasure trove of art.

Dick will be remembered for his witty humor, his sharp intellect and his love for college football (not professional).

Dick is survived by his twin sister Dorothy Morgan, his children, Debbie, Carol, and Roger, seven grandchildren, and twenty great grandchildren.

A celebration of life / memorial service will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA on Friday, February 24 at 1:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Vietnam Veterans of America, Inland Empire Chapter, www.vvachapter47.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AchesonandGraham.com for the Bloom family.