Hampton -- Richard Hall Sawyer, widower of Marylou DuVal Sawyer, passed away peacefully March 2, 2016, at age 96. Richard was born January 9, 1920, in Concord, New Hampshire, to Willis J. and Nettie W. Sawyer. He was predeceased by brothers Willis, Earl, and Robert.

He is survived by daughter Susan S. Edmonson and husband Charles of Hampton; son Richard J. Sawyer and partner Jeffrey Beaty of Washington, D. C.; daughter Mary S. Molineux and husband Will of Williamsburg; and daughter Ann Sawyer and husband Tom Pufnock of Colerain, North Carolina; grandchildren Sarah D. Messersmith (husband Jason) of Hampton; David K. Edmonson of Hampton; and Sally D. Stratton (husband Joseph Carle) of Sacramento, California.

Richard is also survived by niece Gunilla Sawyer of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; grandnephews Erik Sawyer (wife Rose) and Michael Sawyer (wife Heather) and their children, all of Massachusetts; niece Ann Perry (husband Robert) of Francistown, New Hampshire; nephew John Kasbaum and family of Timber Cove, Texas; niece Julie Kasbaum Pappan and family of Friendswood, Texas; and many other relatives and friends.

Two of his talents were music and science. For a career, he chose the latter, graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and becoming an aeronautical engineer at the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (later National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in Hampton, where he worked for 34 years, researching and designing improvements for aircraft.

Throughout his life, Richard's first avocation was music. He sang lead baritone roles in many Peninsula Civic Opera productions; was a longtime member of the St. John's Episcopal Church choir; sang with the Old Dominion University Madrigal Singers; was a faithful Virginia Opera fan; served as music director for Grace Episcopal Church in Newport News; taught piano lessons for many years; and served as president of the Peninsula Music Teachers Association, among many other music activities.

Richard and Marylou were longtime parishioners of St. John's Episcopal Church, where they were married in 1944. They also loved the Outer Banks of North Carolina and to travel, especially to Italy. In his retirement he became an experienced genealogy researcher and enjoyed tutoring at Peninsula READS at the Hampton Public Library.

Richard's family thanks the staff and caregivers at The Hidenwood Retirement Community, Home Helpers, and Riverside Hospice who provided exceptional care during his final days.

The family will receive friends from 6-7 pm Tuesday at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11 am, Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Hampton, followed by inurnment in the church cemetery and a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Music Fund, 100 W Queens Way, Hampton, VA 23669 or to a favorite charity.   R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.