Punta Gorda, Florida – Richard Phillip Pedra, age 48 of Punta Gorda Florida, formerly of New Bedford, passed away on Friday July 10, 2015. Mr. Pedra was born in Lisbon, Portugal and moved to the United States at the age of 18 months.
He proudly served our country in the United States Navy, followed by a lifetime career as an A&P mechanic. He worked in the flight test division at MacDonald-Douglas, and then as a maintenance manager at Airtran Airways for 15 years.
He enjoyed Harley Davidson Motorcycles, travelling, playing the drums and was always the life of the party. Most of all, Richard loved his family very much.
He is survived by his parents: Mary V. (Valentim) and Louis P. Pedra of New Bedford, 3 daughters: Alyssa Maria Williams, Kayleigh Marie Wood and Isabella Louise Pedra; siblings: Heather Medeiros and Antonio Eduardo Pedra; as well as 5 nephews and 1 niece. He is also survived by his former wife, Karen Johnson Pedra.
Visiting hours will be Thursday, July 23rd from 6 – 8 P.M at Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St. in New Bedford, MA. His funeral will be Friday, July 24th, beginning in the funeral home at 8:00 AM, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 9:00 AM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.