Obituaries: R. B. Rikard, 1949, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: April 7 & May 19, 1949 Winn Parish Enterprise No. 1 Winn Soldier, Sailor Killed In Accidents In Arizona, Morocco R. B. Rikard, U. S. Navy, Drowned In French Morocco R. B. Rikard of the U. S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Rikard of Atlanta, was accidentally drowned Saturday, April 2, at Mehedia Beach near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, according to a report received by his parents Sunday from the Navy Department. No details of the tragedy were reported by the Navy. Only report given was that his body was recovered from the beach. His body will be returned to the_______________, the Navy Department stated. Funeral services will be conducted at the Couley Methodist Church and burial will be in the Couley Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are incomplete pending arrival of the body. R. B., a graduate of the Winnfield High School, entered the Naval service February 4, 1947 and received recruit training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif. Later he attended Navy Teletype Operations School in Norfolk, Virginia, before being assigned to overseas duty. He left the States the latter part of September, 1948, and since that time has been connected with the communications division. The Navy Department telegram informed the parents that time and port of arrival have not yet been determined, but that this information will be conveyed to them as soon as possible. Surviving in addition to his parents are four sisters, Miss Earlena Rikard of Winnfield, Miss Izora Rikard of Alexandria, Mrs. Thell Rowell of Pineville, and Mrs. S. M. Lowdermilk of Bossier City; and two brothers, J. E. Rikard of Pasadena, Texas, and Jesse Rikard of Atlanta. No. 2 Funeral Services For R. B. Rikard At Couley May 20 Funeral services for R. B. Rikard, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Rikard of Atlanta, will be held at the Couley Methodist Church Friday, May 20, at 2 p.m., with Rev. T. A. Brown officiating. The body will arrive in Winnfield from New Orleans Thursday at 1:47 p.m. Burial will be in the Couley Cemetery under direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Winnfield. R. B. was accidentally drowned Saturday, April 2, at Mehedia Beach near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, according to a report received by his parents from the Navy Department. No details of the tragedy were available. A graduate of Winnfield High School, R. B. entered the U. S. Navy February 4, 1947, and received his recruit training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif. Later he attended Navy Teletype Operation School, in Norfolk, Virginia, before being assigned to overseas duty. He left the states the latter part of September, 1948, and since that time has been connected with the communications division. Surviving in addition to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Rikard of Atlanta, are four sisters, Miss Earlene Rikard of Winnfield, Miss Izora Rikard of Alexandria, Mrs. Ina Rowell of Pineville, and Mrs. S. M. Lowdermilk of Bossier City; two brothers, J. E. Rikard of Houston, Texas, and Jesse Rikard of Atlanta.