Richard S. Funderburgh, 82, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, formerly of Sabetha, Kansas, died Sunday, January 27, 2013 at the Porter Hospice in the Johnson Center in Centennial, Colorado.

Dick was born on May 2, 1930, in Sabetha, Kansas to Ernest S. and Minnie Belle Funderburgh. His wife of 40 years, Neva, preceded him in death in March of 1989.

Dick was a resident of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He began his life in Sabetha, Kansas on the family farm. His parents were dedicated leadership servants of the Trinity Brethren Church in Sabetha. He attended the Pleasant Valley School north of Sycamore Springs and Sabetha High School, playing on the championship football team in 1947-48 as a running back.

Dick and Neva were high school sweethearts and married in May of 1949, while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. He was an air traffic controller based in Grand Prairie, Texas (where their son Michael was born), and later Honolulu, Hawaii, Olathe, Kansas and San Diego, California.

After the Navy, he worked for Westinghouse in Kansas City (where their daughter Gina was born), while becoming a pilot and logging many flight hours. He and Neva moved to Chanute, Kansas, where he flew the mail run for the local paper and was a flight instructor.

Dick was hired as a pilot by Capital Airlines in 1957, whereupon he and Neva moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan. When Capital merged with United Air Lines in 1961, Dick continued to fly with United and retired from UAL as a 747 Captain after 30 years. After retirement he maintained his aeronautical enthusiasm with his favorite Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza planes at Centennial Airport in Colorado.

In addition to flying, his hobbies included woodworking, pursuing a deep love and appreciation for classical, jazz and Christian music, and treasuring his two cats, Cleo and Socksy. Dick’s tender heart and love of God and family were the cornerstones of his character.

He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Scholl of LaVern, California; his son, Michael R. Funderburgh and wife Wendy and their daughter Ashley of Honolulu, Hawaii; his daughter Gina G. Funderburgh of Santa Barbara, California and her son, Garrett Silva of Los Angeles; sister-in-law Shirley Scott of Denver, Colorado; niece Tracie Larson of Denver; niece Jan Spicer of LaVern, California; nephew Doug Scholl of Los Angeles; and his companion Caroline Kendall and her daughters, Laurel Johnson of Castle Rock, Colorado and Larkin Wiegart of Buena Vista, Colorado.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, January 31, at Trinity Brethren Church, 12 Ohio Street in Sabetha, Kansas. Burial will be in Centralia Cemetery following the funeral service.

Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas is in charge of arrangements in Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to the MaxFund No-Kill Animal Shelter, 720 W. 10th Ave., Denver, CO 80204-4917; phone: (303) 595-4917.