William Randolph Gingrich, "Randy," 79 of Cabot, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023. He was born March 5, 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri.  Randy grew up in Wichita Falls and Henrietta, Texas.  Hunting, fishing and Boy Scouts kept him busy as a boy.  After a year in college, Randy moved to Dallas where he managed a Howard Johnson's and met and married his second wife, Jean.  He joined the Air Force in August 1967 and trained as a Communications Systems Technician (Radio Operator).  He became known as "Radio Randy" to his friends.  His career took him all over the world – 5 of the 7 continents.  He worked communications for Apollo missions 8, 9 and 10, MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) and Airborne Communications Systems with the 8th SOS on the Talon 1. He was a crew member for Desert 1 and Grenada rescue missions.  Randy was awarded the USAF Airman's medal for heroic actions saving lives during the Desert 1 mission.

Following retirement from the USAF, Randy worked Civil Service at AFSOC.  His work with communications systems continued for the next generations of radio equipment and satellite communications.  In his spare time, Randy became a Ham radio operator, dive master, volunteer fire fighter and a 32 degree Mason.  Randy was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor, instructor, boss and loyal friend to so many.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Jean Gingrich.

Survivors include his daughters, Helen Marie Gingrich-Means and Mary Heidrich (Don); grandchildren, Ashley Nikole Davis (Todd) and Jessica Amber Heidrich; great-grandchildren, Elanoire Grace Davis, Margot Joy Davis, Adeline Ruth Davis and Eisley Maeve Davis, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Memorial gathering will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, March 31, 2023 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.  If you would like to make a donation in memory of Randy Gingrich, the family suggests Special Operations Warrior Foundation at https://specialops.org/.

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