David Richard Whitesides

David Richard “Rick” Whitesides passed away on 28 May 2024 after a brave battle with lung cancer.   Rick was born on 10 October 1943 to David H. and Viola P. Whitesides of Layton, Utah, where he grew up enjoying family, sports, and music.  He graduated from Davis High School in 1961.  After working for a few years after high school, Rick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1964, serving as an Electronics Technician aboard the USS Paul Revere in the Vietnam Conflict.  He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1968 and achieved the enlisted rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E-5).

He returned home to Layton, Utah and was employed at Hill AFB, first in one of the aircraft maintenance units where he worked on the electronic components of missile and radar systems, and then moved to base supply.  While working at Hill AFB, he met Lynda Alice Struhs of Ogden, Utah.   Rick and Lynda married on 14 February 1969 after a 5-month whirlwind romance.  Rick completed two college degrees by attending school during the day and working nights … all while raising a family.  In 1971, Rick graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and he graduated from the University of Utah in 1976 with a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management.  Upon completion of his master’s degree, Rick went to work in the civilian personnel office at Hill AFB and would continue working in the human resources management field until his retirement in 2018.  Rick worked for the U.S. Air Force from 1968 - 1999, then a short stint with Kaiser-Permanente, and finishing with another position in civil service with the National Park Service.  In total, Rick served the United States for 50 years in military and civil service.

Service to the United States provided great opportunities for travel for the Whitesides family.  In 1984, Rick, Lynda and three of their children, Nathan, Holly and Matt, moved to Bitburg Air Base, Germany, while Brian remained in Utah to attend college.  In 1987, they moved to Langley AFB, Virginia and then back to Bitburg AB in 1989.  After Bitburg Air Base closed in 1994, Rick and family moved to Denver, Colorado where they continue to live today.

Rick was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather.  He is deeply missed by his family and friends, but they find solace in knowing his suffering has ended.

Rick is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lynda; son Brian, his children and grandchild; son Master Sergeant (retired / USAF) Nathan, his wife Tatjana, and their children Christian, Gabriel, and Trinity; daughter Holly Whitesides-Jenkins, husband Kevin and their children Max and Kavyn; Holly’s daughter Myranda Whitesides and husband Danny Peters; son Matthew and his daughter Kaleigh; Matthew’s fiancé Brooke Morgan and son Jaxson; sister Susan Jones and husband Dickey; brother Jay Whitesides and wife Peggy; and brother Kelly Whitesides.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Viola Whitesides; brother Michael, who died after a fight with cancer in 2011; and his in-laws Harry and Alice Struhs.

Rick will be interred at the Ft. Logan Veteran Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado.  He requested that any donations in his honor be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation.

“Our lives are better left to chance

I could have missed the pain

but I’d have had to miss the dance”