Richard Ludwig passed away on Aug. 4, 2008, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Richard, the son of Herbert and Esther Ludwig, was born Nov. 15, 1919, in Seattle. A graduate of the University of Washington, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, Richard joined TWA as a commercial airline pilot, where he flew for 43 years. Richard had fond memories of the early days of TWA when he flew the elegant and cutting-edge Lockheed Constellation (the "Connies") aircraft—a prop planes that required refueling stops in Greenland before continuing to Europe. Richard went on to become a captain, flying the large L-1011s, 707s, 747s and 767s all over the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Pacific routes. "The Captain" always had great stories of flying back in the glory days, when airline travel was exciting, exotic, and glamorous.
Richard's lifelong love of skiing began during his college years in Seattle, where he took a job as one of the country's first ski instructors to help put himself through college. He was an avid skier, joining his friends for lively ski adventures in the Bugaboos, Zermatt, Kitzbuhel, St. Moritz and of course, Sun Valley. He began skiing in Sun Valley a few years after the resort opened in 1936 and made lifelong friendships with many of the skiing legends and locals who frequented the runs on Baldy, the tennis courts at Warm Springs and the lively après-ski hotspots at Slaveys, Christy's, the Pio and the Duchin Room.
After years of vacationing in Sun Valley, Richard and his wife, Bernice, bought a home in Hulen Meadows, where they lived for nearly 40 years, raising children and grandchildren in this beautiful community. Richard was passionate about hiking, golf, bicycling, tennis, windsurfing, picnicking with friends, camping and of course skiing. After retiring from TWA, "The Captain" continued flying by piloting glider planes over the local mountain ranges, frequently gliding over Baldy and tipping the wings in a "hello" to his friends and family skiing below.
Richard was a kind, generous, hard-working and fun-loving man who will be deeply missed by his family and the many dear friends he has left behind. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bernice, and by his parents. He is survived by his daughters, Monica Mattice of Santa Barbara, Calif., Barbara Ludwig-Mead of Ketchum and his sons, Randy (Jacki) and Dan Mattice of Santa Barbara. Richard especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Cindy Guglielmo (Darin), Julia and Jillian Guglielmo and Nathan Mattice, all of Santa Barbara, and Kevin and Hailey Ludwig-Mead of Ketchum.
A private internment and remembrance will be held in Ketchum at a later date.
Richard H. Ludwig
