Richard Allen Duregger

Richard Allen Duregger, 85, of Moyock, N.C., passed away on Oct. 8, 2023. 

Richard (Dick) was born Dec. 5, 1937 in Clear Lake, to Fred and Helen Duregger, the oldest of two brothers. As a youngster, Dick was always building something. He and his childhood friend built a small wooden rollercoaster for kids in the neighborhood. He designed and built a Soap Box Derby car that came in second place in the Derby Race in Mason City. He graduated from Clear Lake High School, North Iowa Area Community College, and Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and began working as a design engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding in 1961. Over the next 35 years Dick worked on the design and testing of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers built by NNS for the U.S. Navy. He was involved in the early design development of the Seawolf Class nuclear submarines until his retirement in 1996.

He married Carolyn Jo Allen, from Mason City, on April 8, 1961, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Newport News, Va.  They became lifelong friends with Pastor and Mrs. Elmer Bosserman and many church members as they started married life in Virginia. Dick served on the church council and other committees for many years. He was a member of the Society for Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and a contributing author to the SNAME book Marine Engineering. He was a woodworker and enjoyed do-it- yourself and home upkeep projects. 

After retiring from Newport News Shipbuilding, Carolyn and Dick moved to their vacation home in Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they enjoyed many years of beach time, sunset views of Kitty Hawk Bay, and visits from their children and five grandchildren. They were members of Grace Lutheran Church By-The-Sea for many years where Dick served on the church council and organized/managed their annual fish fry fundraiser. He served as vice-chair of the Planning Board for the town of Kitty Hawk for several years. After enjoying the beach lifestyle for 20 years, Carolyn and Dick moved in 2020 to a new home in Moyock, N.C. to be closer to their children and medical services in Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of 62 years (and seven months); daughter, Susan Brittan (Michael) of Williamsburg, Va.; son, Joel Duregger (Julie) of Newport News; and five grandchildren, Grace Duregger, of Newport News, Ryan Duregger (Sarah), of Atlanta, Ga., Megan Duregger, of Chesapeake, Va., Connor Brittan (Sarah), of Richmond, Va., and Dr. Taylor Brittan, of Jacksonville, Fla. 

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Terry Duregger, of Mesa, Az.. 

Dick’s celebration of life service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Gallop Memorial Chapel, in Barco, N.C. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name may be made to The American Cancer Society. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements. Please leave words of support and sympathy at gallopfuneralservices.com.