Senior Chief Richard A. O’Brien MMCS, U.S. Navy Retired, 62, of Dawsonville, passed away Thursday March 24, 2016 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a period of declining health.
Senior Chief O’Brien was born and raised in Clayton, Indiana and had been a resident of Dawson County for almost 20 years. After graduating from Cascade High School in 1972 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he became a member of the Navy SEALs. He was involved in many conflicts from the time of Vietnam to Desert Storm and retired after 20 years of service. Most recently he worked for a number of years at The Louver Shop where he was affectionately known as “Big Guy”.
Surviving are his wife, Melissa Thurmond O’Brien, Dawsonville; children, Gene and Tammy Darby, Jasper, Diana Williams, Indianapolis, IN, Tanica O’Brien, Dawsonville; parents, George and Patty O’Brien, Clayton, IN; sister, Georgia Ann Rushton; brothers and sisters in law, Mike and Cathy O’Brien, Virginia, Steve and Evanna O’Brien, Indiana, Ron and Tammy O’Brien, Indiana; brothers in law and sisters in law, Horace Thurmond, Dawsonville; Robert and Joann Thurmond, Dawsonville, Terry and Sybil Thurmond, Dawsonville; sister in law, Brenda Dean, Dawsonville; 6 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held on Monday March 28, 2016 at 2 o’clock at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Rodney Pilcher and Rev. Tim Pruitt will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.