Richard Bench:  

CLASS OF 1965
Richard Bench's Classmates® Profile Photo
Parkview High SchoolClass of 1965
Springfield, MO
Parkview High SchoolClass of 1969
Springfield, MO
Jarrett Junior High SchoolClass of 1961
Springfield, MO
Pepperdine Elementary SchoolClass of 1959
Springfield, MO
Washington Grade SchoolClass of 1954
East peoria, IL

Richard's Story

Born in rural Douglas Co MO. Lived in several small Missouri towns and East Peoria ILL before coming back to Springfield MO in 1st grade went to Teft, Pepperdine & Mark Twain elementry schools then Jarrett Jr High and Parkview HS. One year college at SMSU then into the Army. Basic at Ft Polk, LA then primary Helicopter Flight School in Ft Wolters, TX then advanced Flight school at Ft Rucker, AL. I got 2 weeks leave back home in Springfield then went straight to Vietnam Nov 1967. I spent part of my tour in the south near Saigon (Camp Bearcat) and Dong Tam in the delta also spent time in the north (Quang Tri and Wunder Beach)my unit was D Troop 3rd squadron 5th Cavalry, 9th Inf Div. After one year I came back to Ft Riley KS for 16 months then got out of the Army & returned to Springfield wher...Expand for more
e I met Sharon Sapp (Parkview HS Class of 1969)I did not know her before as she started as a freshman at Parkview the fall after I had graduated. We married in 1971 and we moved to Olathe KS where I began my career as an Air Traffic Controller at the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center. I retired after 37 years and 40 years total government service. We had 2 daughters Heather Bench(1975) and Courtney Bench (1981). Heather after playing Basketball and Volleyball in college became a Spanish teacher and Basketball/volleyball coach at her old school, Olathe South HS. This year she started a new chapter in her career as a Vice Principal at Blue Valley HS. Courtney also went to College on athletic and academic scholarships and is now married and expecting our first Grandchild in June 2009
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Yearbooks

Parkview High School 1965 yearbook cover photo
1965 Yearbook
Parkview High School
SPRINGFIELD, MO
Parkview High School 1964 yearbook cover photo
1964 Yearbook
Parkview High School
SPRINGFIELD, MO
Parkview High School 1963 yearbook cover photo
1963 Yearbook
Parkview High School
SPRINGFIELD, MO
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Reunions
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Sep 13, 2025
Richard is invited to the
Parkview High School 60 year Reunion
184 invitees
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Sep 30, 2022
Richard was invited to the
Parkview High School Reunion
186 invitees
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Jun 10, 2022
Richard was invited to the
Olathe South High School 30th Reunion Weekend
234 invitees
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Photos

Jarrett Jr High 8th grade 1960-1961
Richard Bench's Classmates profile album
Richard Bench's Classmates profile album
Richard Bench's Classmates profile album
Richard Bench's album, Washington School East Peoria
My flight school Class 1967 67-17-A3
Pilot - My job in the Army
After Vietnam 1969
7th grade Jarrett Jr High
r bench 1966 sms
dick 2006

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