Richard Van De Perre

Richard Godefridus Gerardus Bernardus Van de Perre, age 39, a native of Geldrop, Netherlands and a resident of Dothan, died April 28, 2011, in a helicopter accident while serving on a routine training mission near Monroeville, Al.

rnFuneral services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2011 in the chapel at Sunset Memorial Park with the Rev. John Gunter, officiating. Full military honors will follow outside at Sunset’s Freedom Park provided by Royal Netherlands Air Force and the United States Military. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel with a brief visitation held after the funeral service in the reception center. rnRichard was born on September 9, 1971 in Geldrop, Netherlands. He held degrees from MTS Helmond College in Math and Physics/Computer Science and also an Aeronautical Engineering degree from Hogeschool Haarlem College in the Netherlands. rnRichard joined the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1997, graduating flight school at Fort Rucker in 1999 and served as an apache pilot until 2004 in the Netherlands. In 2007, Richard re-enlisted in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and became a liaison AH-64D Instructor Pilot for the RNLAF at Ft. Rucker serving as a Captain. He was fluent in Dutch, English and German. He recently received his American citizenship in December of 2010 and was very proud to be an American with dual citizenship. His contract with the RNLAF was to end in May, 2011 and he had just begun a new civilian contract as an apache instructor pilot with S3 Incorporated. rnHe married the love of his life, Wilma, 11 years ago and was a wonderful step-father and mentor to her three children, and especially enjoyed being an Opa grandfather. He always had a smile on his face and never met a stranger. He was a man of many talents that could do any task he was given. He and his wife spent many days at their beach house and were always looking for different projects to start. He enjoyed working on computers and fixing up cars. Wilma and Richard loved ballroom dancing and were members of the Dothan Ballroom Dance Club. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.rn
rnSurvivors include his wife, Wilma Van de Perre; step-children, Lindsey Latta Fain Chris, Brooks Latta, and Emily Anne Latta; one grandson, John Parker Fain and one granddaughter, Maggie Kate Fain due in May, all from Dothan. His parents, Ben and Betsie Van de Perre; two sisters, Diana Van de Perre and Debbie Lindenbergh Walter; 3 nephews, Rory, Levi and Noah; one niece, Kiara, all from the Netherlands. Numerous other extended family members reside in the US and the Netherlands that he loved so much. Burial Date: January 1, 1970