Obituary of Richard Andersen Attridge

Richard A. Attridge died peacefully, on January 15, 2022, surrounded by family, at the age of 95. Richard will forever be remembered for living life to the absolute fullest, and for the way he cherished his family and friends, and the incredible beauty in the world. He was born in NYC in 1926, spending his childhood near Pelham Bay Park, where he developed his great love for adventure and the natural world. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army's 724th Military Police Battalion, on the South Pacific Islands of Tinian and Saipan. He earned his license in Architectural Drafting, and worked at Dorr-Oliver, Inc, in Stamford, CT, for his entire career. He designed and built his family home in South Salem, NY, with his beloved wife Imelda, and later, designed their dream home in West Windsor, Vermont. A man of many sayings, Richard believed one needed to "keep the motor running"... he was a very active man. He was a runner, skier, hiker, Little League Coach and Boy Scout Leader, and never missed his children's athletic events. He attended Pilates classes into his 90s. But above all, he was a horseman….on his riding adventures, and carriage and sleigh driving events with Imelda, he created many friendships, and beautiful memories. His crowning achievement was completing the Vermont 100 Mile Trail Ride at the age of 70. For his 95th birthday, he requested to walk across Grandfather Mountain's Mile High Swinging Bridge….which he did, grinning the whole way. Imelda, Richard's wife of 56 years, was the love of his life. Together, they shared a deep and abiding love of nature, and the mountains, lakes, sunsets and stone walls of their South Salem home. Their love of travel took them on many adventures around the continental US, Alaska and Europe. After retirement, they bought a farm in Vermont, where Richard enjoyed working with the landscape as "his artist's palette". After moving to Boone, NC at the age of 92, he loved driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, marveling at the beauty of "Nature's Finest". He practiced gratitude daily…for music, which "soothes the soul and warms the heart", flowers, and ice cream. And, for those who loved him. Each and every day, he would "count his blessings". Richard is preceded in death by Imelda, and son Chuck; his parents, Arthur and Margaret Attridge, sister and brother in law, Joan and John Gordon, brother in law Frank Manna, brother and sister in law Donald and Nancy Wicks (Berry), and sister in law Barbara McCreary; he is survived by his daughter and son in law, Kim and Donald Sherrill of Boone, NC , grandson Robert Sherrill (Ashleigh) of Los Angeles; daughter in law, Holly Attridge, grandson Richard H. Attridge (Sarah) and great granddaughter Hannah of Clinton, MA; sister, Mary Ann Manna of Bedford, NY; brother in law John McCreary of Valencia, PA; and many nieces, nephews and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held in South Salem, NY in late spring. Donations may be made in Richard's memory to: Blue Ridge Conservancy PO Box 568 Boone, NC 28607 https://blueridgeconservancy.org/donate. Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Attridge family.