Richard G. Underwood

Richard G. Underwood, 89, lately of Chickasha, Oklahoma, more recently of Syracuse, New York, passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Surviving family members are his wife of 62 years, Virginia Lee Hunt Underwood; two daughters, Pym Mumford (Jack) and Marian Buda (Lou) of Syracuse, New York; a son, William G. LA?nge Underwood (Karin) of Kent, Ohio; ten grandchildren and one great grandson, as well as a sister, Mary Sue McDaniels, of Oklahoma City and a brother, Bill Underwood (Joyce) of Colorado Springs. Dick Underwood grew up in Muskogee and Chickasha, Oklahoma, and attended the University of Oklahoma at Norman. In keeping with his pacifist convictions, he served his country as a conscientious objector in the Civilian Public Service during World War II. After the war, he helped to replenish herds in Europe with Heifer Project International. His long and interesting life included early membership in CORE, a year in England during the McCarthy era, when his refusal to sign a loyalty oath barred him from working in the U.S., and positions in publishing as book designer at the University of Oklahoma Press, assistant director of the University of Texas Press at Austin, and director of Syracuse University Press. In 1960 he authored a book on university press publishing, and in 1965-66, a Guggenheim Fellowship allowed him to study scholarly publishing in Europe. In retirement, he lived in County Cork, Ireland, for five years. He and his wife shared a profound love of learning and reading and delighted in music of all kinds, especially bluegrass and classical, singing, and playing recorder in a quartet. He had many dear friends in both the U.S. and Europe, whom he entertained with his colorful stories and sharp wit. He was an excellent calligrapher, amateur cartoonist, and writer of verse. For many years he and his family enjoyed hiking, camping, and bird-watching throughout the United States. An idealist at heart, Dick exemplified intellectual rigor, mistrust of dogma, and unadorned honesty. He cared above all for his family, books, and reading. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Southwest Indian Foundation, P.O. Box 86, Gallup NM, 87302 (www.southwestindian.com) or to the St. Joseph\'s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD (www.stjo.org). A celebration of his life will be held at the Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 South Salina Street, Syracuse, New York on Sunday, September 28, 2008, at 4:00 p.m., with a reception following at the Mumford home, 211 Oakley Drive, Syracuse, New York.

Richard G. Underwood

August 31, 1919 - September 24, 2008