Richard Washer was born on May 8, 1925, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Isaac Washer and Esther O. Washer. Sometime after 1935, his family moved to California, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. His father was a well-known downtown property owner and businessman in Torrance, operating The Gay Shop, a clothing store located at 1319 Sartori Avenue.

Washer entered military service in May 1943. He underwent approximately 17 months of extensive training, earning his wings and being appointed a flight officer in the Army Air Forces in November 1944 at Pampa, Texas. During his training, he qualified as a pilot, bombardier, and navigator. While in Texas, he also shared his musical talent, performing a piano concert for United Service Organizations members in Bonham in April 1944.

Beginning in December 1944, Washer received additional training as a B-25 bomber pilot at Enid Army Air Field in Oklahoma. After March 1945, he was assigned to a P-38 squadron as a reconnaissance pilot in Oklahoma City.

On August 4, 1945, Flight Officer Washer was killed in an Army plane crash 2.5 miles east of Vilas, Kansas, at the age of 20, while attached to the Army air base in Coffeyville, Kansas. He was flying an F-5E Lightning, the photo-reconnaissance variant of the World War II P-38. He was laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery following a military funeral at the Hollywood Cemetery Chapel, officiated by a U.S.O. chaplain.

Richard Washer was survived by his parents, his brother Donald Washer, and his uncle David Oran. In recognition of his service and sacrifice, the Torrance Chamber of Commerce—of which he was a member—and the Torrance post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars each issued resolutions of condolence.

Researched by Noah Kim.