In Loving Memory of Rev. Richard A. Whitcomb
Rev. Richard A. "Skip" Whitcomb, aged 77, a retired Naval Officer and Pastor, was promoted to heaven on March 20th after a brief illness at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. He died peacefully in the presence of family.
Rev. Whitcomb was born July 11, 1930 at Melrose, Massachusetts in the United States of America. He was the son of the late Rev. Richard Fisher Whitcomb and the late Ruth Sager Whitcomb. He graduated from Mt. Hermon School in Massachusetts and Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1949, and earned his BSc in Engineering there, graduating in 1953. He served for 20 years as a Naval Officer, rising to the rank of Lt. Commander and completing assignments on submarines, in Viet Nam, Taiwan, and Washington, DC.
He married Sheila Campbell in June of 1953. They were married for nearly 55 years. Their union was blessed with three children, 23 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.
After retiring from the Navy in 1973, Rev. Whitcomb entered the Christian ministry and served as Dean of Family Affairs at Christ for the Nations Institute, Dallas, TX for three years. He accepted the call to pastor at Risen Savior Fellowship in Milwaukee, WI, and served there 14 years. While in Milwaukee, he was prominent in promoting racial reconciliation and fellowship among pastors from all denominations. He organized pastors' fellowships and programs. He launched the March for Jesus in the city and led it for many years. During his time in Milwaukee, Rev. Whitcomb assisted in the establishment of the Agape Gospel Mission in 1982. He made several trips to Africa with AGM, during which he taught and preached God's Word. He was a founding Board member of AGM, and was Board Member Emeritus at the time of his passing.
He moved to Roanoke, VA in 1994 and continued ministerial service by spearheading March for Jesus in the Roanoke Valley. Rev. Whitcomb was awarded a Doctorate in Theology from Jacksonville Theological Seminary, and taught at the River of Life Bible College in Roanoke. He also continued his work promoting racial reconciliation and ministerial unity, and volunteered at the Food Bank and at nursing homes.
Rev. Whitcomb is survived by his wife, Sheila, of Roanoke; by his three children, Karen Probus of Manassas, VA; Heidi Holland of Stanley, VA; and Rev. Richard C. Whitcomb of Accra, Ghana; and by 23 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday March 25th at 11:00 a.m. at the Maranatha Fellowship, in Roanoke, Virginia. Rev. RA Whitcomb was buried with military honors on Wednesday March 26th at 2:00 p.m. at Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia.
He will be sorely missed by his family, but they are rejoicing in the knowledge that he is now and forevermore in the presence of the Lord Jesus he loved so much and served so faithfully.
