RICHARD T/ V. MUCKRIDGE

Richard Thomas Vakish Muckridge, better known as “Muck,” was born July 28, 1935, in Youngstown, Ohio.    He was preceded in his death by his parents, a son, and a brother. For 13 years his family lived on a farm in Vienna, Ohio and in 1948 they moved to the steel mill village of McDonald, Ohio, where he worked in the mill. He graduated from McDonald High School in 1953.    In December 1954, he joined the army with 3 high school friends. They went through airborne training and were stationed in Beppu, Japan with the 508th Parachute Regiment.    After one year, they were transferred to the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Due to an injury from a parachute jump, he was transferred to the Third Army at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was discharged there in December 1957.    While stationed at Fort Benning, he met his future wife, Jane Coker, of Bibb City, Georgia. They married in 1961, divorced, and remarried in 1966.    After his army discharge, he traveled several places looking for work. In 1959, he was hired by the City of Atlanta Fire Department and worked there for 7 years. While he was a firefighter, the city recognized him for a life saving act involved with difficult circumstances.    He started to work for the federal prison systems in 1966 and retired in 1986. During this period he worked for the US Penitentiaries in Atlanta and Terre Haute, the Eglin Federal Prison Camp at Eglin AFB, and the Old West Street Jail in New York City. Throughout his career, he received 3 Quality Step Increases and 2 Special Act Awards.    In 1987, he began driving a school bus for Okaloosa County Schools and retired with 21 years in the district. One year he was elected Bus Driver of the Year, central office. He then drove a school bus 2 more years for the local college, NWFSC.    He was involved with golf most of his life. He began to caddy when he was 10 years old and during his life he played with many groups and a variety of people. He started playing at the Eglin AFB course in January 1980. The most fun and the best group he was involved with was the last group he played with.    He was very proud of his 6 children and his 10 grandchildren were a great joy. He realized that Jane was the instrument in the successful behavior of their children and he was fortunate to have her as his wife for over 50 years.    Muck died February 2, 2020 of natural causes. He will be missed. Arrangements are pending.