Richard B. “Dick” Searles, 78, of West Wareham, died at home Feb. 17 after a three year battle with Glioblastoma. He was the husband of Pauline M. (Audette) Searles and the son of the late E. Allen and Dorothy (Cowling) Searles Tripp and stepson of the late Edwin E. Tripp.

He was born in Acushnet and lived in West Wareham for many years.

At age 16, Dick started work as a draggerman and scallop fisherman and at the time was one of the youngest fishermen out of New Bedford and Gloucester.

He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Fleet Submarine U.S.S. BECUNA SS-319. He served as a torpedoman, Boatswain Mate and was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Boatswain Mate.

Dick worked for Linberg Marine, Inc. in Fairhaven for 48 years before retiring due to his illness. He also held a U.S. Coast Guard License to Captain Tugboats working for Fairhaven Marine, Sanchez Marine, Providence Steamboat, Hydro-Dredge Corp. and Interstate and Ocean Transport Corp out of the Port of Philadelphia.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, working in his yard, photography, baseball, model building and “Telling Sea Stories”.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline M. (Audette) Searles; a son, Ian Richard Searles of West Wareham; four daughters, Holly Searles of Fall River, Samantha Pereira and her husband Joseph of Swansea, Jennifer Searles of New York, New York, and  Kristen Patterson and her husband George of Fairhaven; two brothers, Neil Tripp of New Bedford and Russell Tripp and his wife Elaine of Saugus; three granddaughters, Nicole Pereira, Katherine and Bonnie Patterson; his mother-in-law, Bertha Audette of New Bedford; his sisters-in-law, Diane Furtado and her husband, Silverio of New Bedford and Suzanne Allen and her husband Dennis of West Wareham; his brother-in-law, David Audette and his wife, Elizabeth  of Worthington, Ohio; several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his father-in-law, Raymond Audette, and his sister, Deborah Bancroft.

Visiting hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, followed by a funeral service at 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Rosie Foundation, P.O. Box 301, Franklin, KY 42135. For directions and online guestbook, visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.