Richard Edward Dickson was born on February 18, 1922 in Oakland, the first child of Clarence and Edna Dickson. He graduated from Oakland High School where he played football. He briefly attended the City College of San Francisco before being appointed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. He graduated from the Academy with a major in engineering. After the war, he returned to Oakland and went to work for Bay City Iron Works, which was his deceased father's business.

On June 8, 1946, Richard married Phyllis Marie Johnson of Oakland. Phyllis and Richard met as young children in Sunday school at Central Lutheran Church in Oakland. In July of 1947 their first son, Peter, was born, followed inSeptember of 1954 by their second son, David. The couple lived in Oakland until 1990 when they moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. They joined Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Lafayette in 1995.

Richard was the owner of Bay City Iron Works for over half a century. He was an accomplished engineer and had the unusual capacity to produce freehand sketches to be used for manufacturing parts. He enjoyed his work!

Richard was an avid sportsman. He was a fisherman, hunter, bowler, and skier, but his passion was golf. He loved to play golf and participated in numerous tournaments winning many trophies. He achieved his greatest golf moment on May 4, 1987, when he hit a hole-in-one on the 13th hole in Rancho Canada in Carmel.

Richard also enjoyed his civic activities. In October of 1973 he joined Rotary Club #3 of Oakland, which he was president of in 1977, "The Year of the Gear." He was a member of the Oakland SPCA, the Northern California Scholarship Foundation, the Grandfathers Club of America, and the Oakland Investment Club.

Richard died on Wednesday, November 21, 2001, in Walnut Creek. he is survived by his wife Phyllis, sons Peter and David, their wives Virginia and Robin, his grandchildren Stacey, Christopher, Ryan and Michael, and his sister, Loraine Regan and her husband Jack, his brother-in-law Tryge Brye, and nieces and nephews. His sister-in-law, Claire Brye preceded him in death on October 11th.

Richard will be missed by his family and many friends. He was a bright light!