Richard Albert Przybylski

Richard Albert Przybylski was born on Dec. 27, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Kazimiera (Felcyn) and Albert A. Przybylski. He passed away on August 3, 2021 in Vancouver, Washington, at age 95. Richard grew up with eight other siblings on Cedargrove Street, near Detroit City Airport, and graduated from Detroit's Denby High School in 1944. In May 1944, he was enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served as a Ball Turret Gunner on B-17 Crew #10392 in the 8th Army Air Corps 388th Squadron, which was based in Knettishall, East Anglia, England, for operations in the European Theatre in World War II. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant with a Victory Medal in June 1946. Richard and his four older brothers--Harry, Ted, Norb and Henry--all served in World War II, and all five returned home. His two sisters, Delphine and Evelyn, also married World War II veterans--Harry Sobie and Robert Lennemann, respectively. He also had two younger brothers--Albert Jr., who served two years in the Korean War, 1951-53; and Alfred (Butch). Richard was the last surviving member of the family. After Richard's military service ended, he pursued a professional baseball career for three years (1948-50), as a pitcher in the Texas Leagues--his best year being 1949 with the Brownsville Charros in the Rio Grande Valley League. Richard then started a 39-year career as an Automotive Body Design Draftsman--with Chrysler (1952-57), and Fisher Body at the GM Tech Center (1957-64), before working for 25 years at Ford Engineering in Dearborn (1964-89). In his two final years before retirement, he worked with the contract shop Entech in Dearborn. He graduated from the Philpot Automotive Design School in 1959 with a Trade Certificate in Automotive Body Design. Richard was also a part-time Ballroom Dancing Instructor at Arthur Murray's in the Detroit area for nearly four decades, from the late 1940's to the mid-1980's. Richard was also known as Richard or Dick Price, as an alias, by many of those who knew him since the 1950's. Richard was very kind, mild-mannered and beloved by all who knew him. Richard is survived by three sons--Richard Price (Jr.), Terrance Przybylski and Martin Price; and a daughter, Jill West, from his first wife, Maree Dally (1925-1979). Richard raised his four children mostly on his own as a single father in the last half of the 1960's and in the 1970's. He is also survived by three grandsons--Zachary Price, Jared Price and Morgan West. Richard was also married for 31 years to Clara Marlar Mooradian (1938-2013), and has three surviving stepchildren--Sheree Mooradian, Laurette Mooradian-Caliguire and Christian Mooradian; along with many fond nieces and nephews. Visitation Thursday, August 26, 10:30 am until the time of the Funeral Service at 2:00 pm at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home, 25509 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights.