Richard Hume Weir, 103, passed away July 21, 2020, at Blue Skies of Texas-West (formerly Air Force Village II) in San Antonio, Texas. Richard was born March 5, 1917, in Detroit, Michigan. He lived a full and distinguished life. He was healthy and always full of energy until he went into the hospital, for the first time in his life, shortly before he passed away.

Richard grew up in San Bernardino, California, where his grandfather, Richard Weir, was a pioneer builder of the fledgling city in the late 1880's. Richard, also known as Dick, graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1935. He attended the University of California Los Angeles while working at the Bank of America. During this period, he met the love of his life, Barbara Poore, from Pasadena, California. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in early 1942. He and Barbara were married in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 28, 1942.

Richard earned his wings as an Army Air Corps Navigator from the Army Air Corps Air Navigation School in Monroe, Louisiana, and was assigned to the Ferry Command, transporting aircraft worldwide until 1944. He was then assigned to Kunming, China, flying the "Hump" over the Himalayas for the remainder of the war.

He returned to California in December of 1945 and started working in banking and real estate.

In 1950 he was recalled to active duty in the USAF and flew B-29 bomber combat missions during the Korean War. He then transitioned to the RB-47 Stratojet with assignments in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Lockbourne AFB, Little Rock AFB, and Barksdale AFB. During his time in the RB-47, he flew several hazardous secret spy missions over the Soviet Union.

He was assigned to the B-58 bomber Cat II test program at Carswell AFB doing operational tests of the nation's first supersonic bomber. He transitioned to the 43 ^rd Bombardment Wing at Carswell, becoming Chief of Bombing and Navigation for the 43rd Bomb Wing at Carswell and later Little Rock AFB.

In May 1960, at Bergstrom AFB, he and his crew, B/G, then Major, Harold Confer and LTC, then Captain, Howard Bialas, won the SAC Bomb Competition among all bomber units at the event. In January 1961, that same crew set a world speed record of 1,284 mph in a closed course track. For that they were awarded the Thompson Trophy, which is currently displayed at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Richard concluded his military career at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he was in charge of flight testing the bomb/navigation system for the FB-111 fighter-bomber and developing the bomb/navigation system for the B-1 bomber. He retired from the USAF in 1975, completing over 32 years of service.

After retirement from the Air Force, he became a farmer in his home state of California, commercially growing over 60 varieties of Protea and was one of the pioneers of the Protea industry in the U.S.

Richard truly loved his time in the Air Force, his time as a farmer, his family, and the friends he and his wife, Barbara, made over the years. Since his retirement and residency at Blue Skies of Texas, he participated in and supported many professional associations and charitable causes, notably the Daedalians, the B-58 Hustler Association, the Air Force Navigators Observers Association, Macular Degeneration Research, and Wounded Warriors.

He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Barbara; three children, Ted Wier (Schiela) of Warrenton, Virginia, Dixie Christy (Lynn) of Springtown, Texas, and Linda Myers (Rusty) of Van Buren, Arkansas; six grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Richard served and loved his country and was an exemplary part of the Greatest Generation; he will be missed. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Macular Degeneration Research or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Due to the pandemic and Covid-19 restrictions, Richard's Celebration of Life and Interment were delayed. His beloved wife Barbara passed away one year and five days after his death on July 27, 2021. Family and friends will gather together to celebrate both Richard and Barbara on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at Blue Skies of Texas-West. Interment will follow at 11:15 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondre-guinn.com