William Richard Easton Jr.

LCDR William Richard Easton Jr. (Rick), USN Ret., 79, passed on to his next duty station in heaven on Mar. 19, 2025.

Rick was born on July 20, 1945, in New London, Connecticut. He graduated from Coronado High School in California and went on to English in the United States Navy in 1965. He was selected for the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Rick received his commission as an officer in 1971. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1988 after 24 years of service, which included being stationed for three years in Korea. He traveled extensively in the Middle East and Asia over his career.

After retiring from the U.S. Navy, he received his Master’s Degree in Education from Wright State University in 1989. He taught math and science for the gifted grades 3-8 in New Kent County Public Schools. Rick served on Maggie Walker Governor’s School Admission Board and was active in the Odyssey of the Mind and Lego Robotics.

Rick was a charter member of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg and later of King and Glory in New Kent, serving as president and as elder. One of his most enjoyable positions was as “Professor Kaboom” for Vacation Bible School. He served as president of the Property Owners’ Association of Rock Creek Villas in Quinton for eight years.

In 2016, after many years of congestive heart failure, Rick received a Left Ventricular Assistive Device (LVAD). He continued to enjoy teaching and living with LVAD to many students at VCU Health and at the support group. He invited anyone to “Listen to this!” He used to say, “I have lived nine years past my expiration date.” He donated his body to the Anatomy Gifts Registry to continue his love for teaching.

Rick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ann; daughter, Jessica Fisher (Mark); son, William Richard Easton III (Willie); three granddaughters, Avie, Madelyn, and Eleanor; two brothers, Capt. Greg Easton, USN Ret. (Naomi) and Cdr. Chris Easton, USN Ret. (Jan); sister, Pam Coker (Cdr. George Coker, USN Ret.); sisters-in-law, Barbara Fischer and Anita Stein (Gunter); as well as six nephews, five nieces, seven great-nephews, nine great-nieces, one great-great-nephew, and one great-great-niece.

Rick’s internment with honors will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025, 11 a.m. at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, Virginia. His Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, 11 a.m., at King of Glory New Kent Church, 4800 North Courthouse Road, Providence Forge, Virginia, 23140.

Memorials may be sent to King of Glory Lutheran Church, New Kent, 4800 N. Courthouse Road, Providence Forge, VA 23140, or at www.kognk.org.