In Loving Memory of Richard Paul Champagne

Richard Paul Champagne, born on April 13, 1930, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Edward and Eva (née Plante) Champagne, peacefully passed away on December 23, 2023, at his home surrounded by family. He was the second of four children who grew up in the Haverhill area; moving from Nantucket to Hull Island to New London and landing in Haverhill, as his father's jobs changed.

Richard's family once lived in a bungalow that jutted over the Atlantic Ocean where he and his brother would collect crabs and lobster from right under their home. The constant moving and having to adapt combined with a Catholic upbringing laid a strong foundation for him to be a man of good character and would prove to serve him well in his next chapters of life.

After graduating from Haverhill High School, Richard worked jobs with his father until ultimately deciding to enlist in the United States Navy. While standing in line, a classmate told him that submariners received extra pay and that was when Richard chose the next direction of his life, to New London, CT and submarine school. He worked hard, followed orders, proved himself valuable to the missions and was well-liked by all. Richard was plank owner of the USS Seawolf and USS US Grant and the Grant's first Chief of the Boat.

During his time on the Seawolf, President Eisenhower took his first dive in a nuclear submarine. Soon after, Richard was invited to work as part of a team with Lockheed Martin and General Electric to develop a submarine launched ballistic missile. It seemed like a dream, an impossible task, but Richard and the team took their training, knowledge, and creativity and made that dream a reality. Richard was there with President Eisenhower as they proved it worked. That submarine launched ballistic missile project was the Polaris missile. Polaris was one of Richard's most proud and protected memories. He did not share his stories of his years on submarines until he was 70+ years old. Everything was top secret in those days. Tell him a secret, and he'd keep it. A man of his word!

During the Polaris development phase, Richard met a woman working at Lockheed, Patricia (Pat).  Richard and Pat married and moved cross-country to Florida. Pat's son Charles David (who was adopted by Richard) soon joined them and their family grew by four daughters Catherine, and Cynthia, in Florida, and Constance when they transferred to Connecticut. The next military move was to Hawaii, and eventually to Virginia, where their daughter Christina joined the family.

Fishing, boating and sailing were favorite past-times of Richard's. Many days were spent sailing the waters of Hingham Bay with his brother. He and Pat would fish together in Key West, Florida. Richard and Sheryl would fish the Chesapeake Bay. And he would teach his kids fishing as they got older. When he was on the water, he felt enveloped in God's love. The sea was his home.

Richard retired from the Navy as a Master Chief in May of 1970. He served faithfully for over 20 years. Being in the Navy with constant moves and deployments (often with long times of no communication) took its toll and sadly, Pat and Richard divorced. Richard felt he missed out on so much of his children's lives because of his career. He spent the later half of his life connecting with his kids and grand-kids as best as he knew how.

He continued his love of the ocean by working within the marine business making custom engines and boats. Before work he often stopped for a coffee and a plain cake doughnut. One morning a redhead behind the counter caught his eye, Sheryl.  He began stopping everyday. Eventually Sheryl and Richard married in 1979 and he became "dad" to her four children, Matthew, Michael, Michelle, and Virginia. The combined family included nine children and one grandchild!

After the Navy and marine business, Richard worked for the USPS. He delivered mail to the ocean front homes in Virginia Beach, Virginia. When he retired for good, Richard and Sheryl settled in Florida. They became very active in a local Catholic church, St. Rose of Lima. Retirement and Florida were both very good to the Champagnes.

When Ginny's epilepsy returned, Richard and Sheryl moved to Ennis, Texas to help care for her and help her young family.  They stayed for several years before moving to the Seattle area and a retirement community. It was a welcome change of location, climate and nearer to Richard's beloved sea. When Sheryl died in 2012, Richard felt he should be near family, so he moved back to Ennis where he still owned a house. He moved in with Ginny and her husband Rob in 2013 and remained there until his death.

Richard grew up in a simpler time when everyone worked hard, used resources wisely, shared their good fortune and a contract was simply a handshake between two people. At the end of the day before you slept, you thanked the Lord for all you had and the blessing of your family.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Eva, his sisters, Janice and Rochelle, sons Charles and Michael, grandson Carrington, and wives Patricia and Sheryl.
He is survived by his children, Cathy (Perry) Alspach of Sebring, FL, Cindy Wannall of Kenosha, WI, Connie Olsen of Virginia Beach, VA, Chris (Shawn) Reilly of Milnor, ND, Matt Costa of Virginia Beach, VA, Missy Costa of Pensacola, FL, and Ginny (Rob) Phillips of Ennis, TX,  17 Grandchildren and 13 Great-Grandchildren. He is also survived by his big brother, Edward (MaryAnn) Champagne of West Port, CT and many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

Eternal rest grant unto them. O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

Submitted by family