Richard H. Werner
Early Life
Richard Henry Werner was born on November 18, 1898, in New York City, New York, the son of Richard F. Werner and Anna Sonntag. By 1910, he was living in Rye, New York, where he spent his formative years, establishing a clear connection to the community. His upbringing reflects the experience of a young man raised between New York City and suburban Westchester during a period of rapid growth and opportunity.
As a young adult, Werner pursued technical training and was engaged in mechanical study, reflecting the increasing importance of skilled labor and industrial knowledge in the early twentieth century. By the time of his draft registration, he was associated with the West Side YMCA in New York City, indicating both employment and vocational development prior to his military service.
World War I Service
Richard H. Werner entered military service on November 4, 1918, when he was inducted into the United States Army at St. Paul, Minnesota, during the final days of World War I. His induction came just one week before the Armistice, placing his service within the closing phase of the conflict.
He was assigned to mechanical training at an Army school in St. Paul, where his duties were aligned with technical instruction and preparation rather than combat deployment. This type of assignment was common for late-war inductees, particularly those with mechanical aptitude, as the Army continued to build and maintain its technical capabilities even as the war drew to a close.
There is no record of overseas service or combat engagement, and no wounds were reported. Werner was honorably discharged on January 10, 1919, following the rapid demobilization that occurred after the Armistice.
Life After Service
Following his military service, Werner returned to New York, where he married Beryl Antoinette Furlong in 1921. The couple raised a large family, with five children born over the following decade. His postwar career included work as an oil burner serviceman, reflecting the continued importance of mechanical skill in both residential and commercial settings.
Richard Henry Werner died on April 15, 1972, in New Port Richey, Florida, at the age of seventy-three.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Beryl Werner; his sons, Robert Henry Werner, Richard Werner, and John Werner; his daughters, Mrs. Beryl Ester and Mrs. Ann Allen; eighteen grandchildren; and his sister, Mrs. Augusta Eggerer.
He was buried in Florida, concluding a life that began in New York City and was shaped in part by his early years in Rye, New York, where his service is recognized.