Richard “Dick” Evans Coykendall

Richard “Dick” Evans Coykendall passed away peacefully on August 2. Born in Bayonne, NJ Dick excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. After high school, Dick attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. As an Engineering student he concurrently enlisted in a Cooperative Engineering Program with General Electric, enrolled in Air Force ROTC, and served as House Manager for his TKE fraternity. Upon graduation with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he was immediately employed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), but the Air Force called him into service as the Korean conflict hastened the need for American air power. As a test engineer, Dick oversaw technical details for the J47-17 engine, the first jet engine to be controlled electronically.

Dick was then enthusiastically hired by United Airlines in 1955 immediately after his Air Force service commitment. Over an incredible 47-year career he worked primarily in flight engineering, supporting the company’s acquisition of Boeing 727, 737, 767, and Airbus airplanes. As a technical expert on requirements, he also served by appointment as a member of a Congressional Advisory Committee on Aeronautics concerning standards in the furtherance of transport aircraft development. Having come west to live and work in San Francisco, Dick met his bride Virginia “Ginny” Sommers, and they were married on June 23, 1962. They lived for a few years in The City before moving to San Mateo where they created a home, raised their three children, and became active in their community. Dick and Ginny enjoyed a camaraderie with friends as part of a 49ers tailgate group for well over a decade. They also travelled frequently cherishing trips to Kansas to visit family, National Parks, Europe, Asia, and cruises to Alaska and Mexico. Dick served as a lector at St. Gregory’s Church in San Mateo. His tonal delivery of reading was admired for truly emphasizing the Christian message. Dick will be remembered by his family and those who knew him for his selflessness, patience, courtesy, and citizenship. Dick was preceded in death by his beloved Ginny; they had been married for 56 years. He is survived by Greg, Wendy and grandson Braden Coykendall of Williamsburg, VA; Brian Coykendall of Fremont, CA; Anne and David Wilhoit of Ann Arbor, MI; grandchild Katie Wilhoit of San Francisco and granddaughter Amanda Wilhoit of Boston. An intimate service and interment were held at Skylawn Memorial Park.