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Richard Waugh Obituary
Aug 8, 1917 to Oct 31, 2014
Los Altos Hills
Richard Campbell Waugh of Los Altos Hills, Ca. died at home October 31, 2014 surrounded by his family and caregivers.
Dick was born 1917, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He earned a BS in chemistry from University of Arkansas and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Colorado.
After WWII ended, he and his brother, brother-in-law and a friend formed a chemical manufacturing company, Arapahoe Chemicals in Boulder, Colorado. He was its president for 24 years. Arapahoe was purchased by Syntex Corporation in 1965 and seven years later he was transferred to Palo Alto, California as group vice president in charge of chemical operations.
In Boulder, he was active in the First Congregational Church and served on the Boulder City Planning Board. In California, he served as Moderator for the First Congregational Church, Palo Alto, CA. After retirement in 1982 he served on the boards of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, San Jose, California, Chem Design Corporation, of Pittsburgh, Massachusetts and Satellite Health Care of Mountain View, California.
He was an avid dry fly fisherman, an enthusiastic skier and tennis player, a constant reader and a lover of theater and symphony. Dick also grew orchids, loved the opera and traveled the world in retirement with his second wife, Olive (Babs) Wilbur Gamble whom he married in 1992. She preceded him in death in May of this year. His first wife, Marian Louise Bartram of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died in 1990.
He is survived by his four children, Thomas Waugh (Katy) of Cupertino, California, Deborah Halliday of Rancho Santa Fe, California, Rebecca Hammond (Patrick Lagutaris) of Boulder, Colorado, and John Waugh (Susan Albers) of Boulder, Colorado, his two step-daughters, Priscilla Gamble Slocum (Paul) of Middlebury, Vermont and Lea Gamble of Tiburon, California, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and his wonderful caregivers, Lyn Regoso, Julia Cyncor and Tatyana Ignatyeva.
A celebration of Dick's life will take place Saturday December 6, at 3PM in the Parish Hall at Foothills Congregational Church, 461 Orange Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Planned Parenthood of your choice or to the Cardiac Therapy Foundation, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Waugh
Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.
5 Entries
November 29, 2014
John, our thoughts are with you and your family. Michael and Rani Williams
November 26, 2014
When my husband had heart surgery and was off work for many months, Dick Waugh made sure that we had money and time available for a full recovery. He and Marian even invited me to their home for dinner during that long hosital stay. On a brighter note, Dick taught my husband to fly fish and that led to many great fishing trips. My condolences to the Waugh family.
Anne Hasse
Jamestown, CO
Per Hultquist
November 22, 2014
There aren't sufficient words to express how grateful I am to have been a part of your organization and your family. Suffice it to say, it was life altering in the best of ways.
November 22, 2014
Dear Tom, Becky, Deborah and John,
When Syntex moved us from Cuernavaca to California, your warm and lovely parents not only made us feel welcome, but went a long way to help smooth the repatriation process for us and our children. My admiration for both of them went well beyond gratitude for their kind help and hospitality. You dad was the boss that everyone wants, most notably that his integrity was such that it outshone his significant intelligence, management style, and humanity. I've regretted that we long-since lost touch, but people like him, and your mother, never fade from memory. Sadly, the world has lost one of the good ones. My condolences to you and your families.
Jo Anne Springer
Jan Lund
November 21, 2014
Dick, You were a friend and mentor to us all. Your people skills rubbed of on most of us and will endure. Thank you.
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