Richard Allen Kale, 90, of Myerstown, PA, passed away on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
Born in Avon Heights, Lebanon, PA, he was the son of the late Cyrus William Kale and Sara Evans Steele. Richard grew up in the Lebanon County area. As a child, he enjoyed camping, baseball, swimming, and hanging out with his best friend, Robert Matthew, of Lebanon. When he was 17, Richard wanted to join the Air Force and completed his high school education while serving. He served from 1953 to 1973. He worked in the U.S. Air Force Security Service (USAFSS), a secretive Cold War-era intelligence unit that specialized in signals, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance agencies, focusing on electronic warfare and cyber operations. As Richard would put it, “We were actually spies, electronic spies.” He had been to 30 different countries during his military career. Richard served in two wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, where he earned several medals. Two of these medals were the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. Both were for extraordinary achievement while participating in the Services.
During his military service, he married Mary W. Matthew, of Lebanon, on Feb. 16, 1957. They would have been married 69 years this coming February. The family lived in Texas, Washington state, England, Alaska, and Arizona. His favorite place was Alaska, where he lived for nearly 35 years before moving to Arizona and then back to his roots in Pennsylvania.
Richard was a good provider, husband, and father. He taught his children to be honest, hardworking, and responsible for their actions and decisions. He really loved his grandchildren and loved hearing about his great-grandchildren. He loved dogs, especially labradors.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Cathy Ann, wife of Harold Echols, of Anchorage, AK; son, Richard Allen Kale Jr., and his wife, Laurie, of Olympia, WA; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Sara Jane Frantz, Catherine Mabel Checket, Mary Elizabeth Light, Cyrus William Kale, Howard Levi Kale, and Edward Theodore Kale.
He will be buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery with military honors on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
