Dr. Richard Lester Eddings, 78, of Altamonte Springs, FL, formerly of Metropolis and Mt. Vernon, passed away on Friday, August 3, 2018 at Florida Living Nursing Center.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 11, at Metropolis Memorial Gardens.

Richard had an eventful life. He was born in Metropolis on the 20th of August, 1939. He was a member of the Mount Vernon High School class of 1957. He was concert violinist and a member of the United States Navy Band. Richard earned a bachelor's degree in music at the University of Alabama and doctorate of education at Virginia Tech. He had been a teacher, principal and school superintendent and retired from civil service after a career in the unmanned aerial division of the Navy at Washington, D.C.

After retiring, Richard moved to the Orlando, FL area where his long-time good friend Richard Tobin, and wife Frances, live. He liked to go out to eat at Cracker Barrel and American Legion Post 183, of which he was a member. He also attended the "Breakfast Club" at McDonalds with Richard, Betty, Bob, Richard H., Rick, Terry, Dave, Derrick, Carl and Sassy, where he was affectionately known as "Dr. Dickie".

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Norman K. Eddings and Madelyn Compton Eddings Parrish. He is survived by his loving sister, Norma Goodwin; niece, Jane (Chris) Hatchkiss; nephew, Carl Goodwin; brother he never had, Harris Goodwin all of Albuquerque, NM; aunt, Virgie Wilson of Paducah, KY; and many including Sharon Glass and James Stewart Ray of Metropolis and David Compton of Montgomery, IL.

Arrangements are entrusted to Miller-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis.