Richard V. Cloke 91, Pittsburg, formerly of Chanute, died Tuesday July 20, 2010 at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg.

Richard was born Jan. 16, 1919 in Parsons, the son of Roy G. and Hazel P. Babcock Cloke. He was a member of the 1936 Chanute State Championship basketball team, graduating that same year. He attended two years at Chanute Junior College before entering the US Army Air Corps in 1938. He served in WWII in Africa and Italy flying B-24s. After the war he was assigned as an associate professor at the University of Kansas of Air Science and Technology. He later returned to active duty as an officer to a remote part of Japan. He later retired from active duty at Richards Gebrara Air Force Base.

Richard had careers in insurance, gas and oil industry, and real estate. He was married to O. Helen Gardner in 1941.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas Cloke, Chanute, David Cloke, Pittsburg; his sister, Margie Thomas, Fort Smith, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a son Richard D. Cloke.

Memorial graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 26 at Erie Memorial Cemetery in Erie, the Rev. Harry Disbrow officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery where full military honors will be conducted. The family asks expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorials to the First United Methodist Church in Chanute, which may be sent to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.