Sloan, Richard Wilson "Dick" 1923-2006

SLOAN, MCCULLOCH, WEIR, CIESLEWICZ, JOHNSON, TAYLOR

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/17/2010 at 09:10:03

Contributed by Gail M. Orr Erickson

The (VA) Roanoke Times; August 1, 2006

SLOAN, RICHARD WILSON (DICK)

Richard (Dick) Wilson Sloan, 82, of Fincastle, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 30, 2006 surrounded by his beloved family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Glendale, California on August 22, 1923 to *Burnside and Carrie Sloan. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained as a flight mechanic. He was based in India and flew on more than 70 missions "over the Hump" to China. He could vividly recall even now, the specifics of every flight. Before and immediately after the war, he worked at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in California building aricraft. This combination of military and civilian training brought him to his first career as a flight engineer for Eastern Airlines. Although he flew on several types of aircraft, none captured his heart like the Lockheed Constellation. "Dick" then embarked on his second career as a Burger King franchisee, which eventually brought him and his family to the Roanoke Valley. He opened the first Burger King restaurant in Roanoke in 1967 on Williamson Road. He and his family have continued in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Over the years, he has been a community leader serving on the executive boards of many civic organizations including Camp Easter Seal, the Adult Care Center, the American Red Cross, and Mill Mountain Theater. He has been extremely active in his church and is a founding member of the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle. He was also a lifetime member of the Fincastle VFW Post #1841. In his spare time, he enjoyed time with his family, reading the lastest non-fiction history or biography, puttering in his woodworking shop and tending his yard and flower gardens. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Helen S. Weir; and infant sons, Patrick and Martin. He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife of 58 years, Rosalie Cieslewicz Sloan; sons, Charles "Chuck" R. Sloan of Copper Hill, Michael E. Sloan and wife, Kathleen of Troutville; daughters, Mary Ann Sloan Johnson and husband, Robert of Danville, and Helen Sloan Taylor of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Courtney Kathleen Sloan of Ocala, Fla., Gregory Michael Sloan of Charlottesville, Kathryn "Katie" Rose Sloan of Troutville, Patrick Murray Johnson of Charlottesville, Meghan Clare Johnson of Charlottesville, and Casey McCulloch Johnson of Danville. The family would like to especially thank, Dr. Thomas Henretta, his medical staff, and the staff of Good Samaritan Hospice for their great compassion and care. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Transfiguration, 7624 Roanoke Road (U.S. 220 N) Fincastle, the Rev. Ken Shuping and the Rev. John Abe officiating. The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home in Daleville on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m., prior to the evening visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3825-A Electric Road SW, Roanoke, Va. 24018; the Church of the Transfiguration, P.O. Box 416, Fincastle, Va. 24090; or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 554, Roanoke, Va. 24003-0554. Arrangements Rader Funeral Home, Daleville, Virginia.

*Transcriber note: Parents of Richard Wilson Sloan, Burnside Wilson and Carrie Frances McCulloch Sloan, were both born in Poweshiek County, Iowa and also married there.