Col. (Ret) Richard L. Sula April 18, 1940 - April 18, 2022 Loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Richard L. "Dick" Sula was born in 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, and he grew up in the neighboring suburb of Villa Park. Graduated York High School in 1958. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1963, was commissioned a second lieutenant, and earned his navigator wings in 1964. Colonel Sula's operational assignments include tours at Travis AFB, California and Charleston AFB, south Carolina navigating C-124 and C-141 transport aircraft on world-wide missions. During his Southeast Asia tour in Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam (1972 - 1973), he flew 103 combat missions as a navigator and sensor operator aboard AC-119K "Stinger" gunships. Major Air Command assignments include a tour at HQ Air Training Command (ATC) at Randolph AFB, Texas, where he managed the computer configurations of all 16 AT bases from 1973 to 1975. In 1979, he was assigned to HQ Military Airlift Command at Scott FB, Illinois as a war plans automation officer, and subsequently, as the Chief of the War Plans Analysis Division. Following his promotion to Colonel in 1985, he served as the Base Commander at McGuire FB, New Jersey, and in 1986, assumed the same position for over 2 years at Charleston FB, South Carolina. Colonel Sula's final assignment was the Professor Aerospace Science (AFROTC) at Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont. He retired in 1991, a Master Navigator with almost 8,000 flying hours. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Five Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, eleven Air Medals, and two Air Force Commendation Medals. Colonel Sula earned his teaching degree and taught Social Studies at Wolf Branch Middle School in Swansea, Illinois for 4 years. He and his wife, Diane, moved to Klawah Island, South Carolina in 1997 where they were active with the Turtle Patrol, President of the Kiawah Island Community Association, played golf and enjoyed the visits from the two grandsons, Trevor and Jacob. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Laddie J. and Marie Sula; and his brother, Kenneth C. Sula. He is survived by his wife, Diane E. Sula of 58 years; sons, Richard L. (Nanet) Sula, Jr. of Olathe, Kansas and Scott P. Sula of Valrico, Florida; 2 grandsons, Trevor Sula and Jacob Sula; and a brother, Laddie J. Sula. Services will be held at United States Air Force Academy at a later date.