Richard L. Stilwell, 75


Richard Lee Stilwell, 75, of Chocowinity, N.C., and formerly of Sherborn, Mass., died Saturday, May 24, 2008, at his home. He was diagnosed with a neurological disease in early 2008.

Mr. Stilwell was born Aug. 7, 1932, in Winchester and grew up in Luray. He graduated from the Virginia Military institute in 1953 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. He worked for Bethlehem Steel then entered the U.S. Air Force. He received a master’s degree in business in 1958 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. He was systems engineer at IBM in the New England area for 33 years. He lived in Sherborn, Mass., for 31 years before retiring to North Carolina in 2002.

On Dec. 28, 1963, he married Claire Schwennker, who survives.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Hill of The Woodlands, Texas, and Karen Miller of Pasadena, Calif.; a son, Jim, of Hopkinton, Mass.; a brother, James; a sister, Anne, of Luray; and seven grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at Mount Zion Cemetery in Luray. A reception will follow at Mount Zion Church of the Brethren.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Hillside Funeral Service in Washington, N.C.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chocowinity EMS, 512 NC 33 Highway E, Chocowinity, NC 27817.

You may share a memory with the family and view a video of Richard’s life by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com.