Richard Funkhouser

Richard Edgar Funkhouser (September 10, 1917 – May 15, 2008) was an American diplomat and geologist, specializing in oil. He served as United States Ambassador to Gabon.

Career Though Funkhouser had a deferment working as a geologist in Venezuela, he volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was with the Cal-Aero Academy Army Air Cadets Class 43-J. Following training in Texas at Kelly Air Force Base, Cox Field, Paris, Jones Field, Bonham, Brooks Air Force Base, and Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, he was stationed stateside in Sedalia Army Air Base, Jackson Army Air Base, and Baer Army Airfield. His first flights of the war began in August 1944 with the 9th Combat Cargo out of Moran Town, India to Myitkyina, Burma. He transferred to Warazup, Burma in January 1945. After serving in the China Burma India Theater of World War II, flying 302 missions and earning 102 points, he was awarded several medals, and was demobilized in July of the same year as a First Lieutenant.

After the war, he worked as a geologist for Shell Oil domestically and Standard Oil of New Jersey overseas. Passing the career U.S. Foreign Service exams, Funkhouser became a Regional Petroleum Officer for the Middle East, assigned to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in 1953 He served as United States Ambassador to Gabon from August 9, 1969, to August 2, 1970, and then served in the Vietnam War, appointed as civilian deputy to Lt. General Michael Davison at Bien Hoa Air Base. He gained the military equivalent rank of Major General and received the National Defense Service Medal.

After 33 years

In early 1944, Funkhouser married Phyllis Parkin. They had three children, sons, Phillip Hayes Funkhouser (died 1961) and Bruce Bedford Funkhouser, and a daughter, Blaine Laskowski. He belonged to several clubs and organizations, including Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired, Metropolitan Club, Chevy Chase Club, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Prestwick Golf Club, and Scottish Civic Trust.