Richard T. Sizemore, 85, of Midland, died Friday, November 16 of cardiac arrest at the MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland. He was born February 10, 1922 to Nellie Renard Sizemore and Jesse Sizemore in Muskogee, Oklahoma. When in grade school he moved with his family to Parsons, Kansas. He graduated from Parsons High School and Parsons Junior College where he excelled in sports. He received letters in tennis and basketball and he also played amateur baseball. He was very active in Boy Scouts and earned the top Eagle Scout award.
When World War II started he joined the Army Reserves while he was attending Kansas State College, where he was on the varsity basketball team.
He was called up in early 1943 and was put in the Combat Engineers. His basic training was at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Later he went into training in what was then top secret radar. After marrying Bernice Miller in December 1944, he was sent to the war zone to a top-secret airbase at the United States Army Air Corps Airbase at Harrington, England. It was so secret the men were told not to talk about their work or ask questions or they would be shot! Richard was not allowed to fly over enemy territory because of his knowledge of radar. The 801st/492 Bombardment Group was stationed there. The clandestine operation secret code name was “Carpetbagger”.
Richard received the medals VICTORY, WORLD WAR II, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, and from the French Government, the unit citation the FRENCH CROIX de GUERRE.
After the war ended in Europe he was on his way to the West Coast of the United States in preparations for the invasion of Japan, when the war ended. When he was mustered out of the Air Corps with an honorable discharge, he went back to school at Kansas State College with his wife Bernice. He graduated from K-State in 1948 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and one in Architectural Engineering. He then accepted a job at Dow Corning and he and Bernice moved to Midland. He became active in Boy Scouts and had a troop. Later he joined Big Brothers and had a “little brother”. He was in the Lions Club for many years and was a past president. He was one of the charter members and past president of the Unitarian Fellowship of Midland.
Richard designed several of the buildings at Dow Corning-Midland Plant, and was a Project Manager for many years at DC Headquarters. He also became a registered Civil Engineer. He retired in 1987, and became a vice-president and newsletter editor of the 801st/492nd Bombardment Group Association called the Carpetbaggers. This was the organization made up of veterans who had been stationed there in WWII.
Survivors, besides his wife, Bernice, are his daughter; Judy Sizemore Cain, son; Gary and his wife Donna Burton Sizemore, grandsons: Justin Cain, Tyler and Cody Sizemore, sister; Ruby Sizemore Baker of Kingwood, Texas. He was predeceased by his two brothers; Marvin and Harold Sizemore.


~SERVICES~
As to the wishes of Richard, he is being cremated and there will be no services of any kind.

~MEMORIALS~
Anyone wishing to donate in his memory may like to consider two of his favorite organizations; The American Civil Liberties Union, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland (church) on Jefferson Avenue. If you would like to share your condolences with the family, you may do so online at www.waresmithwoolever.com