Richard F. "Dick" Hellbaum, 73, died Wednesday, February 5, 2014. A native of Oklahoma City, OK, he had been a Hampton resident since 1964. He retired from NASA as an Aerospace Engineer in 2001 after 37 years of service. A member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, he was a Deacon and was very active. He was a former Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Appalachian Trail Club, and enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and tinkering with anything. He was an inventor who held more than 200 patents.

Richard was preceded in death by his mother and father, Halcyon and Arthur Hellbaum, as well as his step father, Walter Hellbaum. Also preceding him are his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Louise and George Cunningham. He is survived by his wife, Sara C. Hellbaum; his daughter, Lynn Huntt and husband, Bernie and granddaughters, Morgan and Dylan; his son, Art and wife, Rachel and grandson, Reed; his sisters, Dorothy Toney and her husband Walter, and Lois Copley, and their families.

A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 3 pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church by Pastor William Hollar, with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall.

The family would like to thank Ray Sholz, Pete Vasquez and Donny Broome as well as our extended church family of Resurrection for your loving support throughout Richard's illness. Also special thanks to the amazing staff of PACE, Newport News.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 6350 North Center Drive, Suite 102 Norfolk, VA 23502 or to the Resurrection Lutheran Church discretionary fund, 765 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.