Obituary of Richard Quinton Vawter

Richard Quinton Vawter (Rich), 79, passed away on October 21, 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife Irene M. Vawter "Skippy" at Arlington National Cemetery.He was born on April 22, 1934, and was a prominent figure in Washington D.C. for many years in his role As Director of Information at the General Services Administration (GSA).His journalism career started early; as a sports reporter for the Joliet (IL) Herald News in High school. He worked his way up to city editor. At 27 he was the youngest editor in Illinois on an associated newspaper. He was transferred to the Washington Bureau of Copley News Service in 1967 to be a Congressional Correspondent; he covered the Midwest Congressional Delegation. Among his most exciting stories were the 100, 000 person Viet Nam protest march on the Pentagon and the riots following Martin Luther King's assassination where he and another reporter were so close to the riots they were warned away by police and participants. During his 27 years at GSA he spent 13 years as the Director of Information working with both political parties. He became the spokesman for the National Archives, which had possession of the Nixon tapes and papers; and for all the presidential libraries and protection aspects of the private residences of the presidents; in support of the U.S. Secret Service. The rest of his GSA career was spent at Business Services and Real Estate Marketing. In 1996 he retired with his wife and moved to Washington State, where he lived the rest of his life before the loss of his wife in 2009. He moved to Colorado Springs, CO to be with his daughter in 2012.He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Ann Vawter, his grandchildren Larry V. Browne, Jr. of Salida, CA, Valarie Bruno, and his great grandson Massimo Young, both of Colorado Springs. At his request there will be no formal service. Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Thursday, October 31, 2013 12:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855