Richard Lee Lovel, Jr. passed away Friday, October 20, 2023, in Panama City, FL at the age of 96.

He was born September 8, 1927, in Luxello, TX.

Richard spent his younger days riding motorcycles around south-central Texas. He loved to visit dance halls and fancied himself quite the singer. Joining the WWII effort at 17, he was off to see the world. 30 years later he retired from the Air Force and had indeed been from Greenland to Manila, from Easter Island to the Panama Canal Zone and spent time along the shores of north Africa.

After retirement, his interests abounded, from farming to flying.  He built a farm from the ground up, including a house, dam and runway.  The farm's core product of high-quality hay was keenly sought after in the community, most especially the local dairy.  The dam allowed for a pond stocked with local fish and hours upon hours of fishing with the grandkids.  The runway enabled his true passion for flying.  Under the call sign Bluebird, Richard spent over 4000 hours of flight in his treasured ultralight aircraft and was readily recognized, from his cockpit, throughout the Southeast.

He is preceded in death by wife, Patricia Lovel, son Richard Warren Lovel and daughters Rachel Kinser and Jorja Byers. He is survived by his son Kyle Lovel, daughter-in-law Sande Hall, six grandchildren- Tabitha Davis, Terry Kinser, Damon Kinser, Mikel Byers, Katrina Semler and Kittric Lovel, as well as a mix of great and great-great grandchildren, along with sister Peggy Heikkila.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, October 26, 2023, in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, 214 Airport Rd, Panama City, with Timothy Senter, Vitas Chaplain, officiating. The family will receive friends, at the funeral home, on Thursday, immediately following the service. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 27 in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL. Those desiring, may make donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Richard Lovel.