Richard “Dick” Bucher, 78, of Ponca City, OK flew west on January 14, 2023. Cremation has been effected. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with Military Honors will take place following the service at Parker Cemetery. Directly following the burial, the family would like to invite friends to a luncheon at The Gathering Place (1309 South Summit Street, Arkansas City, KS 67005).

Richard graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1962 and went on to Ark City Junior College where he graduated with an associate degree. He also worked to receive his private pilot’s license. He served his country from August 1965 to August 1968 as an Army helicopter mechanic.

After his military service, he took a job with Beech Aircraft in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand where he worked on a drone program. He later returned to Wichita, KS and accepted work with Cessna Aircraft Company as the Far East and South Pacific Service Representative. He was able to combine his love of travel with the opportunity for free flying time as the company wanted employees to have personal knowledge of the Cessna product line. After leaving Cessna he operated a small, fixed base operation and aircraft storage at Haines Airport in Arkansas City. He subsequently worked for Beech Aerospace Services in Jackson, MS, E-Systems in Greenville, TX where he began working on the current iteration of Air Force One and was later able to hire on at Boeing Wichita to see Air Force One to completion. He worked for 19 years at Boeing in Wichita, KS, Seattle, WA, Israel, China, and Italy before retiring in January of 2007.

In addition to earning an associate degree, Richard attended American Flyers in Ardmore, OK, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Technology from Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia State University) of Emporia, KS and did postgraduate work at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.

He met his wife, Tamara at a small grass airstrip south of Arkansas City. They were married nearly 40 years. They loved spending time together traveling and exploring, flying, messing with cars and airplanes and hanging out with friends and family.

An avid car fan, Richard enjoyed tinkering with his many cars, attending car shows, and shooting the breeze with other motor heads.

Richard was a life member of the VFW Post 1254, Shelton Beaty American Legion Post 18, Cowley County Amateur Radio Club, Experimental Aircraft Association, Ponca City Chapter 1046 Experimental Aircraft Association, and the Ponca City Aviation Booster Club.

He is survived by his wife, Tamara of the home, daughter Connie (Billy) Elliott of Ponca City, AFS daughters Gloria Borettini of Reggio Emilia Italy, Annika Glock of Germany, Plern Pattarasakol of Bangkok, Thailand, Farsai Panprasittiwech of Bangkok, Thailand and granddaughter Dinah Elliott of Ponca City, OK. He is also survived by brother-in-law Gene Burr of Arkansas City, KS, brotherin- law Dan (Judy) Forcum of Yukon, OK, sister-in-law Cathy Perkins of Yukon, OK, nephews Kevin (Theresa) Burr of Tulsa, OK, Steve (Ricki) Burr of Olathe, KS, Brook (Emily) Perkins of Blanchard, OK, Chad (Melissa) Perkins of Mustang, OK, Rolla III (Dakota) Forcum of Moore, OK, one niece, Crystal (Dave) Deken of Stillwater, OK, 4 great nephews and 9 great nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents Pete Bucher and Connie (Love) Bucher, brother Jimmie, sister Sally Ann Burr, and brother-inlaw Jim Perkins, Jr.

A memorial has been established for the Ponca City Aviation Foundation’s Northern Oklahoma Flight Academy. Contributions may be made through the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.rindt-erdman.com.

Paid Obituary