Richard Erickson

RICHARD C. ERICKSON

1923–2015

Cedar Rapids

Richard C. Erickson, longtime Cedar Rapids resident, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in West Chester, Pa., after a short illness. He was 91.

Richard was born in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 5, 1923, the second of three sons to Robert Fredrick Erickson and Elizabeth Hammond Erickson.

Richard was preceded in death by his older brother, Robert F. Erickson Jr., and is survived by his younger brother, Paul Erickson of Hiawatha.

During World War II, Richard was a U.S. Marine in the tank corps serving in the South Pacific. On May 6, 1946, he married Marilou Grauerholtz, who preceded him in death in 2007 after 61 years of marriage. The couple had one child, Marilyn Erickson Nelson, of West Chester, Pa.

Richard worked as an auto mechanic at both Allen Motors and Century Cab Co. After attending technical school when he was in his 30s, he made a career change to two-way radio technology and in 1964, founded Radio Communications Inc. He retired in 1983.

In 2012, he moved from Cedar Rapids to Pennsylvania to be near his daughter.

In addition to his brother, Paul, Richard is survived by his daughter, Marilyn and son-in-law Richard R. Nelson; two grandchildren and their spouses, Karen R. Nelson (Michael Poteet) of Drexel Hill, Pa., and Carl R. Nelson (Tricia Baum Nelson) of Lacey, Wash.; and five great-grandchildren (Carl and Hannah Nelson-Poteet, Erik, Annika and Eva Nelson).

Inurnment of ashes will be in Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids. In keeping with Richard's wishes, there will be no memorial service.

Any memorials should be directed to the mourner's favorite charity.