ROCKPORT — Retired Air Force Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Unrath died July 15, 2013, at home in Rockport. Born in New York City Sept. 14, 1916, he was the son of Julius and Alice Klauser Unrath, the second of three sons. The family moved to a home at Barnes Avenue in the Bronx in 1920. Richard joined the New York National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1938 in order to enlist in the U.S. Army. Upon formation of the U.S. Air Force, he served as technical, staff and master Sargent before promotion to warrant officer, junior grade, in 1948. He continued serving until 1963 and reached the full rank of CWO4.

Richard married Margaret "Bobbie" Bass of New York City Aug. 9, 1942, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Bobbie passed away in 1999, shortly after celebrating 57 years of marriage. Their life entailed many transfers to bases throughout the U.S. and to Japan. Retiring from his last assignment in Alexandria, La., they built a home in Wilshire Park. Richard began working for the University of Louisiana System and retired a second time in 1980.

He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church until 2009 when he moved to Rockport to live with his daughter and son-in-law and be closer to granddaughters and their families.

He was pre-deceased by his parents; his wife; and brothers, Julius and Walter; and son-in-law, Dale Dunavent. Survivors include his daughter, Patricia "Bunnie" Dunavent; his granddaughters, Christine Van Alstine and husband, Peter, and Suzanne Dunavent-White and her husband, Michael, his great-grandchildren, Hannah and Hayden Van Alstine, and Sydney and Rhys White; his special nieces, Alice Unrath MacKenzie, Barbara Unrath and Denise Bunce; his nephew, John Barry; and his special friends, Dale and Sylvia Rockett, Jessie and Vivian Bryant, and the Stafford sisters.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Camden. If you wish, donations in Richard's memory may be made to your local food banks or animal shelters.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Camden. Condolences may be shared with the family online at Long Funeral Home.