Obituaries:  Richard Fermat Lombard, Sabine Parish       L-516
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 31, 1991
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Richard Fermat Lombard (Photo)

  Funeral services were held for Mayor Richard Fermat Lombard,
U.S.A.F., Retired, at 2:00 p.m., on July 4th, in Mt. Carmel
Baptist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Full
military honors were provided by personnel from England Air Force
Base. Honorary pallbearers were three lifelong friends, E. A.
DeGrummond of Laurel, Mississippi, Bill Robins of Oklahoma City,
and Allen J. Colomb of Baton Rouge. Also serving in this capacity
were several members of the VFW from various posts throughout the
state.

  Major Lombard was born August 3, 1924, in Baton Rouge. His
father, John E. Lombard was, for many years, Director of Teacher
Training and Certification for the State of Louisiana. He worked
under State Superintendents of Education, T. H. Harris, and John
E. Coxe. His mother, Anna Brownson Lombard, also spent 40 years
in education, teaching English and French in Baton Rouge High
School.

  Lombard is survived by his wife, Eileen Addison Lombard, who was
born and reared in the Mt. Carmel Community. His other surviving
relatives are two brothers, John E. Lombard, and Edward Homer
Lombard; and two sisters, Laura L. Addison, and Dorothy L.
Alexander; also nine nieces and nephews.

  Since his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1965, Major
Lombard has been active in local, state, and national programs of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, serving as
State Chief of Staff twice, on various committees, at all levels,
and he has been the Quartermaster of Florien Memorial Post 3789
since it's organization in 1976. He was a life member of the VFW,
the Retired American Legion Post #387, the Disabled American
Veterans, Sabine Chapter #21, and the Retired Officer's
Association. He was also a member of the Air Force Association.

  Major Lombard flew 26 combat missions as a navigator in B-24
bombers out of Grotlaglie, Italy in WWII. He was a member of the
716th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force. They
were known as "The Flying Horsemen", and his squadron was
commanded by Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas.

  During the Korean War, he was the officer sent to establish the
1st Weather Station north of the 38th parallel. A few months
later he was evacuated, along with other allied personnel from
Wonson.

  Subsequently, he was graduated from the USAF Pilot program in
Class 52D, and served in various assignments as a jet fighter
pilot, an instrument instructor, and a special weapons officer,
until his retirement.

  Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1965, Lombard
pursued further studies in the educational field at NSU, being
graduated with an MS degree in Education, May 17. 1974. He taught
Special Education for 10 years in Leesville, Many, and
Natchitoches, before retiring again.

  He was active in community affairs, helping to organize a
neighborhood watch program and the Mt. Carmel Volunteer fire
Department.

  He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and neighbors.