Richard Allyn Vaill

LAKEVILLE — Richard Allyn Vaill, 87, died on March 19, 2011, in Edmond, Okla.Dick was born Jan. 26, 1924, in Lakeville, the son of the late Marjorie (Baldwin) and B. Franklin Vaill. His father was a dairy farmer with interests in produce, including potatoes and sweet corn. His brother, Jim, founded the Lime Rock Racing Park, a famed sports car racetrack built on the family potato field. Paul Newman frequently raced at the track. Dick won a full scholarship to The Hotchkiss School. He played football, baseball, captained the ski team and excelled in ski jumping. He sang in the choir, was president of the glee club and graduated cum laude in 1942. Dick won an appointment to the class of 1946 at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated in the top 3 percent of his class in 1945, on an accelerated program due to World War II. He served in destroyers in various capacities. His last position was staff communications officer, Destroyer Squadron 15, during the Korean War. He married Sheila Edwards in New Canaan, Conn., in 1945. They had four children.Dick married Adeline Old at March Air Force Base, Calif., in June of 1961. They had two children. He started his business career with Edwards Company, a manufacturer of electrical signaling and communication products. Dick designed the fire alarm systems for the San Francisco city schools. He later joined the Thermador Appliance Company in Los Angeles as product sales manager. In 1969, Dick moved his family to New Jersey when he was hired as vice preseident of marketing by Ronson Corporation, a manufacturer of cigarette lighters and electric appliances. He and his family moved to Edmond in 1977. Dick and Addie started OK Distributing Co., which sold kitchen appliances to Oklahoma dealers and builders. They sold the company and retired in 1997. Dick was an active member of Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association and Oklahoma State Home Builders Association, where he held several offices and was selected COHBA Associate of the Year in 1983, and OSHBA Associate of the Year in 1988. He also chaired the COHBA Home Show and OSHBA tennis tournament for many years. Since retirement he has enjoyed the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) luncheon club, tennis, skiing, swimming, working out at the fitness center and the companionship of canine friends. He is survived by his wife Adeline; his six children, Robbin Parisek of Anthem, Ariz., Richard Allyn Vaill Jr. of Santa Barbara, Calif., Pamela Carter of London, England, Peter Vaill of Dana Point, Calif., Jeffrey Franklin Vaill of Edmond and Kristin Margaret Vaill of Scottsdale, Ariz.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Janet Maus of Lakeville and Cedar Creek, Texas; and a sister-in law, Gail Vaill of Lakeville and St. John’s, Antigua. He was predeceased by his brother, Jim Vaill. A memorial service was held March 29 at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, Class of 1946, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402; Peppers Ranch, PO Box 3814, Edmond, OK 73083; Central Oklahoma Humane Society, 9300 N. May Ave., Suite 400-281, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 or Adaptive Ski Program, 1595 Camino La Canada, Santa Fe, NM 87501.