Sparks, Nevada – Richard “Dick” Dreiling passed away on November 24, 2025.

A Memorial Service will be planned for mid-December 2025.

Dick was Born April 3, 1939, in Long Beach California to Bill and Ruthe Dreiling. The family lived in California while his dad was in the Navy, and they moved to Reno at Dick’s age of 8. He joined the Navy in 1957 and went to Boot Camp in San Diego. Over the next 30 years he advanced through the ranks to become a Chief Warrant Officer-4. He served as Avionics Officer for several fighter squadrons, helicopter squadrons, and an anti-submarine patrol plane squadron. During his sea duty tours he made deployments aboard the Aircraft Carriers USS Shangri-La (CV-38), USS Forrestal (CVA-59) and USS Constellation (CVA-64). He traveled throughout both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and was on the USS Constellation for two deployment periods off Yankee Station in Viet Nam. When he was 26 years old and an Aviation Electronics Technician, he won the USN’s Top Teacher award. He was one of seven semifinalists who delivered a 15-minute talk before judges, and as a finalist he won the award with a 5-minute impromptu speech. He retired from the US Navy in July 1987 on his last tour in Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada. He then went to work for Morrison Knudsen Corporation and helped write proposals for Logistics and Services. Dick was an active ground handler for several years and helped work balloons for the Reno Hot Air Balloon races. He was an excellent Stamp Collector, an active member of the Northern Nevada Stamp Society, and participated in several state Stamp Shows. He has won many awards for his collection. He enjoyed making stained glass pictures and models. He worked at the Sparks Heritage Museum as a volunteer for a few years and enjoyed putting on an old-train conductor’s uniform and giving guided tours of the Museum’s train. He wrote articles for the Quarterly Headlight newsletter for the Sparks Heritage Museum. In 1999 he was elected to be on the museum’s Board of Trustees. While working at the museum he made several donations to the displays and built a model of the original train roundhouse that used to be in Sparks. It is currently on display at the museum.

Dick is survived by his brother David Dreiling and his wife Toni of Greenville, Texas; daughter Katheryn Gardiner of Sparks; Teresa Morlok of Sparks; Son Richard Edward Dreiling Jr. and his wife Tami of Walton, Oregon. His grandchildren include John Gardiner; David Gardiner and his wife Christy; Paul Gardiner; Thomas Gardiner and his wife Stephanie; and Jessica Guadagni and her husband Noah. His great grandchildren include Hunter Gardiner; Ryan Gardiner; Isabella Gardiner; Caleb Gardiner; and Marina Guadagni.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale Dreiling, and two wives Margaret DeJoy, and Dolores Gardner.