Richard Morrill Colby, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center on Nov. 7, 2025, at the age of 92 due to cardiac arrest.

Richard was born in 1933 on his grandfather Sherman’s farm in Boothbay, Maine, to Phyllis Sherman Colby and Morrill Pierce Colby.

He graduated from Boothbay Harbor High School in 1950 and continued his education at Maine Vocational Technical Institute in South Portland, where he graduated second in his class in 1952.

Later in life, after completing more than 20 years of service in the United States Army, Richard pursued further education at Northern Virginia Community College in Woodbridge, Virginia, earning an associate degree in applied science, summa cum laude, in 1988 with a major in electronics.

Richard’s military career took him across the globe and the United States. He served during the TET Offensive in South Vietnam, endured harsh conditions north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland, and spent four years stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where his family joined him. One of his final assignments brought him to the Pentagon in Northern Virginia, where he and his family chose to settle after his retirement.

Richard had a sharp mind and a love for challenges. He enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and playing Scrabble—the harder, the better. When not engaged in word games, he could be found tinkering with electronics, helping around the house, or browsing for treasures on Amazon.

Richard is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Janice Farnham Colby; his daughter Vickie and her son Zachary; his son Kent and his daughter Madison, along with her mother Tracy Clater Colby. He is also survived by two children from his first marriage to Margaret Barnes Ames: Tamre (Phil Elam) and her daughter Colby (Eli Avtzon), and Ricky and his daughters Kaila and Hailey Ames. In total, Richard leaves behind four children, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his brother Miles Barter (Sharon), sister Nancy Brown (Ken) and family, Glenn Tilton and family, Matthew Tilton and family, and his beloved Farnham in-laws: Helen, Sarah, Fred, Jerry and family, Marshall and family, Lisa Page and family, and Jonathan Farnham and family.

Richard was predeceased by his father Morrill Pierce Colby, his mother Phyllis Sherman Barter, his stepfather Lester M. Barter; his sister Janet Tilton (Alan) and her son Gary Tilton; and brother-in- law John David Farnham (Elizabeth).

Richard’s memory will forever remain a legacy of love, laughter, and a life well and fully lived—a life that will never be forgotten. At his request, there will be no funeral.