Richard James Pella, age 104, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away on October 31, 2026. He was born on September 18, 1922. Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Scuffham Pella, in 2010, after 64 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughter, Kay Pella Lowry; son-in-law, Sam Lowry; son, Robert James Pella; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Born to Katherine Regina Pella in 1922, Richard grew up in Minnesota. Although he moved away in his late teenage years to join the National Guard, he reminisced fondly of his home state even in later life. In an endearing display of his passion for knowledge, he enjoyed asking people if they could name the northernmost state in the continental United States – a state that most wouldn’t guess – his home state of Minnesota.
While serving in the National Guard, Richard was inducted into the Army as a Private First Class in January of 1941. His unit, Battery G 216th Coast Artillery, deployed to California for a year’s active service, was responsible for coastal defense and air defense duties.
In the years following, Richard rose to the position of First Lieutenant, a position he held while serving in Hawaii during World War II. Upon his return from the war, Richard served in the Officers’ Reserve Corps until May 1955, when he retired as a Captain.
Throughout his deployment in Hawaii, Richard and his wife-to-be, Joyce, wrote to one another every day. Each week he sent her a corsage of white orchids, one of Joyce’s favorite flowers. In 1946, the year after the war ended, Richard and Joyce celebrated their marriage. The couple began their life together in Burlingame, California, where they gave birth to their daughter, Katherine Ann Pella, in 1951 and their son, Robert James Pella, in 1956.
During this time, he pursued the opportunity given him by the VA Bill, continuing his education at the University of California, Berkeley. While working on his degree, he also offered his knowledge and expertise as an employee of Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco, California. In 1954, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and continued his work at Bethlehem Steel until the early 1960s.
In 1964, the family relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, where Richard established a career in the nascent US Space Program. His career spanned three decades of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Shuttle projects.
Over the course of six decades in Huntsville, Richard had the opportunity to watch his family grow – first his own children, then his four grandchildren, and finally his five great-grandchildren. In his retirement, he enjoyed playing golf, spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching them chess, and enjoying meals and holiday celebrations with family. His final years were spent with the love and support of his family, who will always remember his charm, his wit, and his sharp sense of humor, all of which remained prominent throughout his life.
Richard’s ashes will be placed alongside Joyce’s at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama.
Donations can be made to Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, or your favorite charity, in Richard Pella’s memory.
