Richard Vane Wasilewski, Sr.

Richard Vane Wasilewski, Sr. (Ski), of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed into the presence of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on August 10, 2022. He was 92 years old.  He was born to the late Bennie Mark Wasilewski and Nina Elizabeth (Pierceall) Wasilewski on February 22, 1930, in Fancy Creek, Illinois.

Ski was the youngest of five children.  He had an excellent work ethic and was given full charge of and responsibility for the local grocery store by the store’s owner when he was in high school.  Once Ski graduated from high school, he made the decision to join the US Navy and enlisted in 1948.  He had a very successful Naval  career for the next 27 years, and retired as a Master Chief.  To this day, he is respected and remembered fondly by many who worked for and with him.  He was a great example to many.  After his career with the Navy, he went to work for Safeway Stores in Maryland.  During his 15-year tenure with Safeway, he worked his way up to a store manager and then eventually the employment manager for the whole East Coast.

Early in his naval career, Ski was stationed in Washington, DC, and met Eva Mae Harrah of West Virginia on a blind date.  They had a brief engagement while he went to school in Washington state to become a radioman.  They were married on April 5, 1953. After their wedding, they began their life of international travel, relocating every few years to a different country. They had three children—Richard, Jr., born in Guam; Pamela, born in California; and Carol, born in Japan. Ski often attributed his career successes to having such a strong and dedicated wife in Eva.

In 1985, Ski and Eva made the decision to follow Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour after attending a Sunday morning service at Evangel Assembly of God in Camp Springs, MD.  Evangel Assembly became their church home for decades, and they were loved and respected by so many people there.

When, Ski’s wife, Eva, passed away in 2018, he moved to North Carolina and lived with and was cared for by his children over the past 4 years.  It was great to have most of the family within close proximity.  He was thrilled to be able to meet his great grandson who was born in 2021.  

Ski was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie Mark and Nina Elizabeth Wasilewski, and siblings, Bennie Mark Wasilewski, Jr., Frances Marie Wasilewski Biggs, Charles Thomas Wasilewski, and Dorothy June Wasilewski Dean.

Ski is survived by his children, Richard Wasilewski, Jr., Pamela Patton, Carol Wormwood; his grandchildren, Ian and Sabrina Patton, and his great grandson, Sage Elijah Parris.

A celebration of life will be held at Lee Funeral Home, 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Road, Clinton, Maryland, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 11:00 am. A military burial service will take place immediately following at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery Chapel, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, Maryland.