William Richter Obituary

William Julius Richter, Jr. CHARLESTON - It is with great sadness that the family of William Julius (Bill) Richter, Jr. announces his passing. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 5, 2024, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends between 4:00 and 6:00 PM, Thursday evening at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. The Rosary will be recited at 5:30 PM. Bill was born March 7, 1932 in Vallejo, California, a son of Captain William Richter and Barbara Sheppard Richter. He was the oldest of five children with one surviving sibling, Edward Richter of Pensacola, Florida. His other siblings are Barbara (Louis) DeReuil, Genevieve (Bill) Starkweather and Rhoda (Mike) Dessommes. Bill was married to his beloved wife, Clare Keating Richter, for 67 years. They raised seven beautiful children in Charleston, Atlanta, New Jersey and Annandale, VA. Their children are Kate Richter of Vail, AZ, Bill (Kathleen Kordesh) Richter of Evanston, IL, Pat (Michele Borowski) Richter of Tucson, AZ, Ed (Rebecca Jacobs) Richter of St. Louis, MO, Karoline (Lewis) Nelson of Chapel Hill, NC and Helen (Greg) Cassidy of Richmond, VA. Bill is joyful to meet his deceased daughter, Barbara Richter, again in their heavenly home. In 1956, Bill and Clare were married at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. They returned to Charleston in 1997 and have been dedicated parishioners of Blessed Sacrament for the last 26 years. As a young man, Bill started as an altar server for Mass in San Francisco and later became a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. Bill was well known for his math and engineering achievements. He graduated from Bishop England High School and then from the US Naval Academy in 1954. He went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Georgia Tech on the GI bill. From there, he earned a Master's degree from New York University. Finally, he earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from The Catholic University of America in 1971. He had a strong work ethic and was a tireless worker. Bill's 54-year career included working for the US Navy, Bell Labs, Melpar, TRW and then the US Navy as a civilian. In 1997, he transferred back to Charleston, where he retired in 2008 from SPAWAR after almost 26 years as a civilian for the Navy. Bill and Clare have nineteen beloved grandchildren: Taylor Bungard, Tucker (Koleia) Bungard, Dixie Bungard, Ben Kordesh, Eddie Richter, Eva Richter, Genevieve (Mike) Nagore, James (Sasha Hromkova-Norton) Norton, Frances Norton, Marion (Brian) Skillman, Alice Richter, Brooklyn Richter, Yvonne Nelson, Naomi Nelson, Rosie Nelson, Margaret Nelson, Julia Cassidy, Iris Cassidy, and Ruth Cassidy. And six great-grandchildren: Azucena Bungard, Otto Bungard, Oliver Bungard, William Nagore, Caleb Nagore and Abe Norton. He will be lovingly remembered by his large extended family from Pensacola, Charleston, New Orleans and more. He will also be lovingly remembered by his surviving sisters-in-law, Yvonne Santos of Charleston and Ginger Keating of Pensacola. Bill is also known and fondly remembered for keeping his 7 VWs running for his growing family, his love of sailing, tennis and score-keeping for high school wrestling tournaments. Clare, his lifelong companion and best friend looks forward to meeting him again in heaven. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Blessed Sacrament Building Fund, 5 St.Teresa Drive, Charleston, SC 29407. Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. (843) 766-1365.