Col. Richard Eugene Geyer

Colonel Richard Eugene Geyer, US Army, Retired, 88, of Mt. Airy, MD passed away in the arms of his Lord and his beloved wife, Pat on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. He was born on September 19, 1936, in St. Joe County, Indiana to the late Lloyd Millard Geyer and Mary Jane Gordan Geyer. He was the devoted husband of 35 years of Patricia Vacchio Geyer. He served in the US Army for 33 years where he had served as a Judge Advocate General and ultimately retired as Colonel. Before retiring he earned over 10 medals including the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in Kuwait during the first Gulf War known as Desert Storm. There he served as the Judge Advocate General for the US Ambassador to Kuwait. In his retirement he served veterans in various by starting his own law practice to help a number of veterans who needed to obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also served as a member of the Maryland Defense Force where he was certified as a Military Emergency Management Specialist. Richard also had a career with the FDA for over 22 years. His legal skills allowed him to work in various areas of drug compliance for the Center for Veterinarian Medicine. His achievements gained him multiple awards during his career with the FDA. Richard grew up in Indiana and was a humble man. He always thought of others and cherished his large family. He was proud of the fact that his immediate family consisted of over 100 family members and enjoyed their many family reunions. Freedom Church was his home church where Sunday service was his great pleasure, especially singing during worship. Serving God, family, church and neighbors was his pleasure. Shortly after retiring from the FDA, Dick discovered four and one-half acres of unclaimed land adjacent to the property he and Pat owned. Extensive research led to the Maryland Governor’s awarding a land patent (original land grant) similar to the land grants issued to the pioneers who settled Maryland beginning in the seventeenth century. On his request he had Pat imprint the original Maryland Seal using the historical foot treadle machine. The Patent then became part of Maryland’s History. Each spring on another part of the Geyer land he planted an extensive vegetable garden. There he grew hundreds of pounds of fresh vegetables in the soil of his land and shared the bounty through his “First Fruits” ministry- with low-income families and individuals, and senior residents in the local community. Surviving in addition to his wife are daughter and son-in-law Cindi and David Hoernschmeyer; son Brian, sister Arlene Marie Stump and brother Frederick Pierce Geyer and wife Judy. He is also survived by 14 nieces and nephews, numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews, and many, many cousins. A celebration of life service with military honors will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Freedom Church, 2015 W. Old Liberty Road, Westminster, MD 21157. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: Freedom Church, 2015 Old Liberty Road West, Westminster, Maryland 21157, Attention: Handicap Lift Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com

Col. Richard Eugene Geyer

September 19, 1936 - January 8, 2025