<strong>Durham, NC</strong>-Richard Earl Berkley, 82, died in Hillsborough, NC, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2019. He was born on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1936, to the late Dorothy Megowen Berkley and Earl Esco Berkley. Richard graduated from Spring Branch High School, Houston, TX; University of Texas, Austin BS Chemistry; and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, PhD PhotoChemistry. He was employed as a research chemist at the US Environmental Protection Agency. After retirement he and his wife, Anne, spent summers on the family farm near Tempa, WV, where he loved to hike with his dogs, do farm work with his tractor and visit with relatives, neighbors and friends. He was a man of many interests including woodworking, Appalachian engineering, database programming, languages (Russian, Greek, German, and cussing), Bible translations, working on (and yelling at) cars and tractors, cooking and classical, Irish, folk and bagpipe music. In the late 1980’s he was sent to Russia by the EPA for a joint research project, which ignited his interest in Russia. He was a member of the Kostroma, Russia, Committee of Sister Cities of Durham, NC, serving as its second chair. He was also an active participant at Saint Philip’s Church in Durham for 46 years where he served on the board and as treasurer of the St. Philip’s Community Kitchen. He also served as a Stephen Minister and as a lector. On a diocesan level he was one of the first graduates of Cursillo in 1977. Richard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anne Mallory Bond Berkley; daughter, Mary Beth Berkley; son, Simeon Berkley; daughter Susannah Livingood; grandchildren, Benjamin and Sarah Mueller, Emma and Joe Berkley and Mary Ann and Henry Livingood; brother Bill Berkley; and sisters, Caroline Sullivan and Kay McCoy. Richard was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Brenner. A service will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 18, at Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church, 403 E Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. An additional memorial will be planned for later in West Virginia, dates and times to be decided. Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701 is in charge of arrangements.
