Richard V. "Dick" Nation Sr., 80, of Sanford, Florida, formerly of Wellsville, passed away at 12:27 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2023, at his home in Sanford.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Church of the Resurrection in Wellsville with Father Philip Kane officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Church of the Resurrection Cemetery in Wellsville.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday May 19, 2023, at Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.

Richard Vernon Nation was born November 2, 1942, to John and Virginia (Grennan) Nation.

Dick was a native of Wellsville, MO.  He graduated from Wellsville Middletown R1 School District in 1960.  He joined the Navy becoming an aircraft mechanic and was honorably discharged in 1963.  While in the Navy he married Linda Sue Gregory from Bellflower, MO. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters.

In July 1968 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics from Parks College of St. Louis University.  That same year, he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve on completion of the Aviation Officer course in Pensacola, Florida making his first solo flight at Saufley Field.

In 1969 he became a Commissioned Naval Aviation Officer being promoted to Lieutenant in 1971.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1973, he returned back to his hometown of Wellsville, Missouri; attending a number of law enforcement classes and assumed duties as a member of the Wellsville police force at the age of 31.

In 1975 Dick became owner of the Uptown Café in Wellsville which he and his wife operated for 3 years.

From 1977 to 1979 he assumed the duties of Deputy Sheriff of Montgomery County under Sheriff, John Whyte.

In 1979 he was hired as the new administrator of the Hermann Area Ambulance District where he previously worked for the district part time as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He also was the Chief of Police in Rhineland MO at this time.

Moving to Florida in the early 1980's he worked for several aviation companies as a Aerospace Engineer plus having formed a company with his brothers and sisters in Wellsville which made aircraft components. Traveling for several years as an Aerospace Engineering Representative for the FAA he was able to spend time in several countries around the world and eventually was able to work from home.

Survivors include his wife Linda; two sons, Richard Nation Jr.(Nicole) of Wellsville, and Philip Nation (Shanda) of Debary, Florida; two daughters, Torie (Nation) Eckler of Sanford, Florida and Jacqueline Nation of Sorrento, Florida; one brother Robert (Caroline) Nation of Martinsburg; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Nation of Wellsville and Janet Percy of Montgomery City; three Brothers-in-law; James Gooch of Wellsville, Charlie (Sandy) Gregory of St. Peters, and Jim (Patty) Clark of Jacksonville, Florida; 16 grandchildren,  Chris (Kelly) Eckler of St. Louis, Kyle (Liz) Eckler of Shawnee, Kansas, David (Rachel) Wadkins of Taylorville, Illinois, Steven (Sarah) Ecker of Wentzville, Elizabeth Ecker and Jorden Burton of Groveland, Florida, TJ Shaw and Crystal Baker of Sanford Florida, Tommy Shaw and Ashley McCurdy, of Louisiana, Ashley Shaw and Shawn Brough of Cape Coral, Florida, Amber Shaw of Sorrento, Florida, Richie (Tammy) Nation of Wentzville, Nickolas Nation of Bowling Green, Tylor Nation of Lake St. Louis, Mackenzie Alsop of Wellsville, Dylan Alsop of Wellsville, Garrett Nation of Debary, Florida, Kaylin Nation of Debary, Florida,  25 great-grandchildren, Zoe Collins and Cody Nelson of Stilwell, Kansas, Jenna & Paul Eckler of Shawnee Kansas, Alex, Jayden and Jackson Wadkins of Taylorville, IL, Ethan & Olivia Eckler of Wentzville, Dakota & Lucas Burton of Groveland, FL, Aubree, Rayden and Jayde Shaw and Danny and Dylan Brock of Sanford, FL, Abigail & Madison Shaw of Louisiana, Kaleenah Brough of Cape Coral, FL, Blake & Alexia Livingston of Sorrento, FL, Arabella & Kaden Clark of Jacksonville, FL, Evelynn, Samuel and Michael Nation of Wentzville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Virginia Nation, one son Patrick Nation, brothers John Nation Jr. and J. Donald Nation Sr., sisters Joan (Nation) Garufi and Mary (Nation) Gooch, sisters-in-law Rebecca (Ridenour) Nation and Sandy (Trower) Nation, brothers-in-law Vince Garufi Jr. and Richard Percy, and two nephews Vince Garufi III, and Clint Percy.

Memorials may be given to the Helen Reagan Cancer Fund. They may be sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 203 E. Bates St., Wellsville, Missouri 63384.