Richard Carpenter “R.C.” Way III, born July 26, 1937, in Port Gibson, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 31, 2018, with his daughter, Reneé, by his side.

Lovingly called “Pappy” by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was the son of Richard Carpenter Way II, and Beulah Barr Way.

In his youth, R.C. attended Carr Central High School in Vicksburg. He later went on to serve in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars aboard the U.S.S. Bryce Canyon and was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). After serving his country, R.C. followed the rodeo circuit, competing in bull riding. He then worked as a television cameraman in Jackson, where he also made guest appearances as a cowboy on a local children’s show. He later became a lineman for Georgia Power Company in Atlanta, Ga., working his way up to supervisor and retiring in 2000. R.C. retired to the Eagle Lake Community in Vicksburg, where he loved spending time with his friends and neighbors, including longtime companion, Marilyn Wilson.

In recent years, he also enjoyed his time spent at Belmont Gardens in Vicksburg, and the family sends love and thanks to their staff and management as well as to all of R.C.’s friends and neighbors who lived at Belmont with him.

R.C. was preceded in death by both parents and siblings, Barbara W. Pace, Betty E. Way, Mary Louise Perritt, and Anthony Barr Way.

He is survived by siblings, Dixie Jean Kelly of Kilbourne, La. and Wren C. Way, with wife Debbie, of Vicksburg, as well as by many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his son, Richard “Ricky” C. Way IV, of Wheeler; daughter, Reneé Way Duffy of Pensacola, Fla.; and son, Robert A. Way of Booneville; as well as grandchildren, Alisha (David) Latham, Kristen (Shane) Brown, Taylor (Wes) Bayliss, Kayla (Raygan) McCreary, Jill (Jack) Croswell, Richard Way and Ryan Way; and great-grandchildren, Brooke Latham, Parker Brown, Riley Brown, Arlin Bayliss and Leo Brown.

A viewing will be at Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg Wednesday, April 4, 2018, from 10 a.m. until noon with Rev. Tommy Miller officiating followed immediately by the service located at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The family would like to thank life-long friend, Dr. Bill Pierce of Vicksburg, for the excellent care given to R.C. over the last few years.

Also, special thanks to pallbearers Shane Brown, Chris Perritt, Mark Presley, David Cochran, Kevin Sanders, and Trace Lane.

The family requests that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and/or the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society.