Richard Cline

MILLBROOK… Mr. Richard W. Cline (CWO 4, United States Army, Retired), a resident of Millbrook (formerly of Ozark), died Tuesday, February 25, 2020. He was 89.

Private graveside services, with full military honors, was held on Friday, February 28, 2020 in Woodlawn Memory Gardens with a U.S. Army Chaplain officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 66675, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the First United Methodist Church, 167 E. Broad St., Ozark, AL 36360.

Mr. Cline graduated from high school in 1948 and joined the U.S. Army, serving in the occupation forces following World War II. He completed flight school in 1958 and received an appointment as a Warrant Officer at Ft. Rucker. His service as an Army aviator included three years at Ft. Benning, three in Germany, and two tours in Vietnam. During the course of his career, he attended twenty-one Army and civilian aviation schools and received numerous awards and decorations.  After retirement, Mr. Cline was employed in the Ft. Rucker area by civil service and military contractors in flight training. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ozark.  Mr. Cline was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Sandra Cline, his mother, Helen Reed and his stepfather, Morris Royston; brother, Dennis Royston.

Surviving relatives include two daughters, Debbie Knauff (Roger) and Renee Cain (Danny); step-sons, Dr. Lee Smith (Valerie) and Bret Smith (Melita); grandchildren, Sydney Camden, and Grayson Smith of Valdosta, GA; Wade Baldwin, Shelby and Maggie Smith, Ozark; niece, Kelly Royston and great-nephew, Tyler Royston, Woodbridge, VA.