Richard Daniel Head's Obituary
Richard Daniel Head passed away on Friday, November 9, 2012.
Beloved uncle of Daniel Richard Schaus; and great-uncle of Richard Jason Schaus, John Bradley Schaus (wife, Monica; and their children, Madelyn and Daniel) and Whitney Ann Schaus (her daughter, Camille). He was preceded in death by his wife, Madelyn Briggs Head; his mother, Elizabeth Lelia Hager Head; his father, Birdie Daniel Head; a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Richard Schaus; and a niece, Leeann Schaus Fluegel.
Age 89 years, he was a native of Long Beach, CA and a resident of Mandeville, LA. Dick was a World War II Veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corp attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart which he received after being shot twice in the Battles of Saipan and Tinian in the South Pacific.
Richard Head, known mostly by family and friends as “UNC”, had a deep love and devotion to wooden boats. Unc’s love for wooden boats began when he recovered from his gun shot injuries in Saipan and Tinian during WWII. Unc began his boat building career at the San Diego Shipyard building small cabin cruisers for the San Diego Harbor Patrol. Given his dad was a tuna fisherman in the greater pacific, Unc has always been either on or very near water and boats. Unc ended his career there at the shipyard as a certified Master Craftsmen.
Unc’s first boat he owned and most importantly built himself was a 32 foot cabin cruiser called “The Drift Away.” That vessel is still afloat in and around the Pacific waters of San Diego today. Unc’s pride and joy and the only child he and his late wife ever had was their 1971 36 foot Grand Banks called the “Salty Sarge”. After saving up enough money Unc and his wife Madelyn were able to order and purchase their pride and joy.
Unc and Madelyn spent countless times marlin fishing between Mission Bay (near San Diego, CA) and Catalina Island off the coast of Long Beach/Los Angeles. Unc and Aunt Madelyn were very active in the Mission Bay Yacht club where they actually became charter members. There could be series and series of novels around the number of trips taken, marlin caught, party’s aboard during any occasion, Christmas boat parades etc. Salty Sarge made its final voyage east via a flatbed truck from San Diego to Clear Lake Texas then piloted from there to its final birth spot which was Madisonville, LA.
After moving to Mandeville to be closer to family following the passing of his late wife, Madelyn Head, he was able to continue his love for wooden boats by devoting his time to both the Madisonville Wooden Boat Museum and the North Cross Methodist Church. The Madisonville Wooden Boat Museum host’s a Wooden Boat Festival each year in Madisonville, LA. At each festival there is a competition among wooden boat owners and Unc was able to win one year which we think made his day. Given his medical and physical struggles, Unc sold the Salty Sarge to someone who appreciates good woodwork as much as he does. We will miss the family times spent aboard the Salty Sarge. We will forever miss him and will are thankful for everything he did for every one of us.
A visitation for relatives and friends will be held at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home Inc., 2260 W. 21st. Ave., Covington, LA 70433 on Sunday, November 11, 2012, beginning at 2:00 PM and continuing until 4:00 PM.
Graveside services with U.S. Marine Corp Military Honors will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM at La Vista Memorial Park, 3191 Orange Street, National City, CA 91950.
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