Richard A Newell

Richard Allen Newell, 93, of Altamonte Springs, FL passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. He was a retired electrical engineer who worked at Lockheed Martin (formerly Martin Marrietta) for 35 years in Orlando. Rich was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Thomas and Goldie Newell on May 8, 1931. He lived a full life with many experiences, serving with the 1st Marine Air Wing during the Korean Conflict on an aircraft carrier as an Aviation Electronics Technician taking care of his beloved Corsair aircraft. Rich was proud of his USMC service with the VMA-332 squadron “Polka Dots,” co-founding the VMA-332 Korea 1953 Group, a group of Marine veterans of the squadron, and maintained contact with the squadron before and after their deployment to Afghanistan. He also memorialized the experiences of the squadron in a self-published memoir which he shared with his fellow squadron members. 

 After his time in the service, Rich graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in electrical engineering to begin his long career at Martin Marietta where he worked on many notable projects including Gemini for the space program at Cape Kennedy as well as missile programs Pershing, Sprint and Patriot.

 He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Carleen; son, Richard Edward Newell (Steve), Cincinnati, OH; daughter, Kathy Newell Pastore (Phil), Altamonte Springs, FL; grandsons, Philip and Nicholas. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Vicki Lynn.

 His life was full of deep and generous love for his children, grandsons and most of all for his wife, Carleen. “Rich” (or Dick, Papa, or Grandpa depending on when you met him) was happiest spending time with his wife and family and was most proud of his grandsons, who he adored spending time with while they were growing up.

 Rich was a great example to all who knew him and his family and friends appreciated his incredible organizational skills, honesty and straightforward nature. He was also an avid photographer and left his family with a legacy of innovative, funny and meticulously edited home movies. He was a faithful member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Maitland and a die-hard Florida Gator fan as well. 

 An interment will be held privately at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery near the cape where he worked on various missile programs after serving in the Marine Corps. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rich’s memory can be made to Asbury United Methodist Church in Maitland or the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.