Richard Trischler, TWA Engineer, Dies

Richard Trischler, a retired flight engineer for Trans World Airlines who lived in Mission Viejo, died Thursday of cancer. He was 66.

Trischler, born in Pittsburgh, began working at TWA as a mechanic, and over the next 44 years he rose through the ranks to become the flight engineer with the most seniority at the company.

Trischler was a member of the Mission Viejo-Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444. He served as social club manager and held various offices in the fraternal organization.

He was the manager of the lodge’s annual New Year’s Day celebration, which has raised thousands of dollars for cerebral palsy research, care for handicapped children, and local and national charities sponsored by the Elks.

Trischler is survived by his wife, Mildred; his mother, Florence, of Santa Ana, and his son, Richard Jr., of Kansas City, Mo.

Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at St. Kilian’s Catholic Church, 26872 Estanciero Drive in Mission Viejo. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, 25092 Marguerite Parkway.