Richard Arthur Dooley's Obituary
Richard Arthur Dooley, age 70, of Indian Land, SC and formerly of Lynn, MA, died on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at Carolinas Medical Center following a period of illness. He was the loving husband of Julie (Hermsen) Dooley and the late Carol Jean (Dushac) Dooley. Born in Lynn, MA on January 15, 1947, Rick was the son of the late Arthur and Cecilia (Broughton) Dooley. He was raised in Lynn, attended Lynn Catholic and Public Schools and at age 17 he enlisted in the Army. Rick served his country through 2 tours in Vietnam and 6 years in Germany, completing his 20 year military career as a Chief Warrant Officer from Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, TX. While enlisted, he used the GI Bill and his tremendous initiative to earn his Bachelor's and 2 Master's Degrees in Business. That military life also brought him his beautiful wife Carol whom he married Oct. 2, 1981. After Rick retired from the military in 1984, he went to work for Raytheon supporting both the Hawk and Patriot Missile systems. He worked for Raytheon for 23 years, including a 3 year assignment in Taiwan, until his 2nd retirement in 2007.
In February 2005, Carol died after a courageous fight with cancer. Rick chose to relocate to Sun City Carolina Lakes, Indian Land, SC in May 2007. Living in South Carolina brought a whole new life for Rick. Competitive and recreational softball and scuba diving instruction filled his life, but it was the game of golf that brought him his new love, Julie. Rick and Julie married in Las Vegas on October 3, 2010.
The new couple divided their life between their home in South Carolina and their island home in Guanaja, Honduras. They traveled extensively for scuba diving and site seeing, but most importantly to visit family especially their 4 grandchildren: Carolyn, Chloe, Indie and Asher. All loved their Papa dearly.
Rick's zest for life was infectious. He loved sports especially his New England Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins that even led to a little family rivalry. But most of all, Rick loved and cherished his family, adding many special additions with his marriage to Julie.
Rick will be missed by family and many friends, but his memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew him.
In addition to his wife Julie, Rick was the loving father of Jennifer Whitson and her husband Michael of Billerica, MA; step-father of Joshua Hermsen and his wife Jessica of Madison, WI; papa of Carolyn and Chloe Whitson and Indie and Asher Hermsen; brother of Thomas Dooley and his wife Diane of Hickory, NC, Nancy Wiggin of Peabody, MA, Edward Dooley and his wife Joanne of Beverly, MA, John Dooley and his wife Diane of Hampton, NH and the late Jean Dooley. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody MA at 11AM (Attendees are asked to gather in the Main Gate at 10:45AM). Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Memorial Visitation will be held in the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn, MA on Thursday from 4-8PM. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rick's memory may be made to the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center, 741 Kenilworth Ave., Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28204.
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