Richard Warren Kerlikoske, born Feb. 22, 1921, passed away Sept. 14, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Anne Kathrina Poulsen Kerlikoske; mother, Marjorie Alice Spence; step-father, Harvey Alvin Spence; father, Richard P. Kerlikoske; and sister-in-law, Gertrude Poulsen Young. He is survived by his nieces, Anne Kathrina Poulsen Cox, Mary Marcia Poulsen Cole and Elizabeth Rebecca Poulsen Gilbreath; nephew, Robert Houston Young Jr.; brother-in-law, John Hans Poulsen Jr.; and sister-in-law, Oneida Wingfield Moore Poulsen.
Richard joined the Army Air Corp in 1942 as a cadet and received his pilot wings at Craig Air Force Base in Selma in February 1943. After a stint as an instructor pilot, he transferred to McDill Field in Tampa, Florida. There he trained to fly the B-17 Bomber as First Pilot. From there, he and his crew picked up a new B-17 at Savanna, Georgia and preceded on the northern route over the Atlantic to Greenland, Iceland and on to England to join the Eighth Air Force 452nd bomb group. He and his crew flew 17 missions over Europe. Heavy anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighter planes were frequently encountered. On one mission, one engine was completely disabled and part of a propeller on another was blown away. Under these adverse conditions, with only two engines functioning, he was able to bring his plane and crew safely back to England. For this notable achievement, and other actions in general, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and two air medals. After the war, he flew his plane and crew back to the United States, where his tail gunner kissed the ground and vowed he would never fly again unless Lt. Kerlikoske was at the control. The tail gunman never flew again. After the war, Lt. Kerlikoske remained in the Air Force Reserve and retired as Lieutenant Colonel.
In civilian life he was employed by the Florida Power and Light Company, where he became manager of the Sarasota Florida District. He was the president of the Civitan Education Foundation, member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Council, the Electrical Council of Florida, president of Civitan Club, president of the Florida Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society, a board member of Barrett Banks, president of University Club, member of the Salvation Army as well as serving on the board of Sarasota Yacht Club.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, at 2 p.m. in New Live Oak Cemetery with the Rev. Steve Burton officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make memorial contributions to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church; 301 Broad St., Selma, AL 36701. You may visit www.lawrencebrownservice.com to sign the online guest registry.